Pledge of Allegiance

Proud to be an America. Thank-you Red Skeleton, for the beautiful and patriotic history lesson.



 @Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Experience "History Through Music- Review

 Diana Waring has been a leader in the homeschooling community for many years, producing history curriculum, encouraging homeschoolers to think outside the box and learn courageously alongside their kids, laughing out loud and singing!

I'm thrilled to introduce you to a set of music we had years and years ago, but through multiple cross country moves and a house fire, has been lost. Thankfully,  Diana Waring re-produced the wonderful Experience History Through Music! Series and we have them in our house, once more, only this time by a different name, and on CD!
There are 3 titles in this series

America 1750-1890: The Heart of a New Nation

Westward Ho!: The Heart of the Old West

Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder

It's common knowledge that if you want to really understand a culture, you consider the artwork of the time. That is exactly what  Diana Waring has done in Experience History Through Music! Series!
Each book/CD in the series is similar. There is a glossy covered book, complete with stories about the songs, tons of photographs and wonderful artwork, the sheet music and a professional recording of every song in the book! This is learning history at it's best- hands on and out-loud!

My Dad was a musician, and started out in college as a piano major. We all started to play the piano at age 5 under his tutelage, and singing was de riguer in our home. We sang in the car, for our grandparents and always at Great Aunt Dolly's, who always listened with such rapt attention, you would have thought we were the Mormon Tabernacle Choir come to call. My dad taught us parts, utilizing so many of the simple, fun and heart felt songs found in these books. Memories, baby, of long, hot car rides with no air conditioning, and my Dad's demanding perfection, with the wind blowing our words and the heat away.

We sang, "The Old Chariot" and "My Sweet Sabbath Home" at my Grandparents little Plimoth Brethren Church, the faithful gathered every Sunday to declare in song their belief and faith. Windows open, deep in Hoosier country, so that anyone driving by (in car or buggy- this was Amish country, y'all) could hear the sweet sounds of the souls gathered within. Listening to the Musical Memories of Laura Ingalls Wilder choked me up more than once. These songs brought back memories of my childhood and the songs that saturated it, sung with dear ones, many of whom have gone ahead.  It's amazing how much emotion a song can invoke- a time, a place, a season.

And that, my friends, is exactly the point of this 3 book/CD series. To capture times past. To give our children a taste of eras that demanded courage, strong will, hard work and a killer sense of humor. It's all in here. Songs to inspire, cause one to dig deeper -gooey duck, seriously?, laugh, cry and think deeply about what it took to carve a country out of wilderness.

Musical Memories; if you are old enough, these CD's will bring them back. And they will hearken to a simpler time when the simple act of song drew folks together, established community and brought joy to those who listened, regardless of the amateur quality of the singer. Theses are songs that tell of the rich history of this country, of families that valued hard work, faith and family.

Each book features 13-16 songs. This would be a fantastic unit study, a terrific way to incorporate music into your homeschool or in addition to studies you are already doing. We are continuing to read through Notgrass American History and will be doing Classical Conversations, Cycle 3 (American History) in the fall. This fits right in to both. My kids are not only reading about how this country was formed, memorizing history sentences, but singing about it all, too!

The books are every bit as much a visual feast as the songs are a treat for the ears. Each song  has commands 2 pages in the book, full of informative text and one or more photographs or pieces of  artwork. Fantastic! 

Experience History Through Music These book/CD sets are available for $18.99 each BUT for the month of July, you can get all 3 books, with CDs, for $50!

Experience History Through Music These book/CD sets are available for $18.99 each BUT for the month of July, you can get all 3 books, with CDs, for $50!

And don't forget about the HUGE $700 Give-away  going on NOW in conjunction with this launch. There is still time to enter to win! 

You can stay connected with Diana Waring and all her products through these social media outlets: Website: http://dianawaring.com Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/dianawaring Twitter: http://twitter.com/DianaWaring Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dwaringpresents Google+:   https://plus.google.com/b/117887965102531201372/117887965102531201372/posts Newsletter Subscriber Link:  http://www.dianawaring.com/resources/newsletter

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!

Adoption Fund Raiser- Please Help Bring Dominic HOME!

My dear friends, Megan and Steve have a beautiful, faith-based, loving family, built through the gift of adoption. My own Mom and Uncle were adopted and I know first hand the power and long lasting love that occurs when a family is brought together in such a unique way. Please read Megan and Steve's story and prayerfully consider how you might be a part of bringing one more orphan HOME. 

We are Megan and Steve, an adoptive family with 3, almost 4, kiddos.  Our current adoption actually starts with our last adoption. In 2009 we were blessed to travel to Thailand to bring our then 8 year old son, Gabriel, home. 

 

Gabe had a best friend in the orphanage and the boys both had families in the USA waiting for them. Our agency had put us in contact and we looked forward to keeping the boys connected after they came home. The boys were both told in spring of 2008, they were being adopted!  As can happen though, the best friend's adoption fell through.

We had a difficult time processing this information and the knowledge that this sweet boy we had met, spent time playing with, taken pictures of, and that played a huge part of our son's first 8 years of life, would not have a forever family. Never know the unconditional love of parents and siblings. Many prayers were offered and tears shed.

Then November of 2011 we received a call letting us know the best friend's paperwork had just shown up and he was available for adoption. They remembered our distress over his situation and our desire to be kept abreast of any news regarding him. So before they started advocating for him to find a family, would we be interested in adopting him. WOW!

Another adoption was not on our radar.  We are a home school family with one income. Don't misunderstand us, we would adopt more if the financial cost wasn't so great. But there were many reasons to not proceed with his adoption. 

But God called.

We answered. Best friends WILL become brothers!!

All along the way we have stepped out in faith He would provide. And He has. We had a rummage sale last fall that provided the funds for a bill with just weeks left to pay it before an increase in the fees.

Now we prayerfully need to ask others to continue to join us on this journey. We are in the final stages and will be receiving the call we have waited over 2 1/2 years to receive. The invitation to travel. However, along with that call comes the final bills and travel costs.  The stress of where the money is going to come from takes some joy out of the anticipation.  Our son also turns 13 in August and we don't want to make him wait any longer just because of money reasons. 

Here are the ways you can help us......

1)  Pray, pray, and pray some more. For us to be fully funded. For our children's hearts to be ready for the challenges we face in travel and the adjustments. For our new son's safety in Thailand as he waits for us and his heart as he prepares for huge changes to the world as he knows it. For us as parents that we may trust in God's provisions and seek His wisdom in all our plans.

2)  By sharing our story. Please feel free to pass along our story, our needs.  http://www.gofundme.com/3shvmo

3)  By making a donation to help us meet our goal to fully fund the rest of our adoption.  We need to raise a minimum of another $15,000, a huge number.  Yet we know nothing is too big for our God.  He can multiply a few fish and loaves of bread to feed hundreds. He can take donations of any amount and multiply it. 

We would be so grateful if you took this journey with us!       

@Golden Grasses 2008-2013. All photographs, artwork and text are the property of the owner unless otherwise stated. Don't miss a thing! Subscribe to Golden Grasses and get our articles right to your inbox!