Movie Ratings

Back in July, we purchased a Spiderman (cartoon) DVD for Dylan's birthday.  He was turning 3 and was recently enjoying pretending to be Spiderman.  Dale watched this DVD with the kids.  He later told me that there were a couple curse words in the movie.  I was shocked.  Really, in a Spiderman cartoon?  Needless to say, we threw the DVD away.

While discussing what we had discovered with my sister, she said, "Did you check the rating?".  Well, of course not because it was a Spiderman cartoon.  It never crossed my mind that it would have inappropriate language.  Dasia wasn't interested in super heroes and this was our first experience with any movie like that.

Recently, while at the movie theater, I saw a flyer about movie ratings.  This is what I learned....

G - General Audience, All Ages Admitted: A G-rated motion picture signifies that the film rated contains nothing most parents will consider offensive for even their youngest children to see or hear.  Nudity, sex scenes, and scenes of drug use are absent; violence is minimal; snippets of dialogue may go beyond polite conversation but do not go beyond common everyday expressions. 

PG - Parental Guidance Suggested.  Some Material May Not Be Suitable for Children.: The PG rating indicates that parents may consider some material unsuitable for their children.  A PG rated motion picture may contain some profanity and some depictions of violence, sensuality or brief nudity.  But, these elements are not deemed so intense as to require that parents be strongly cautioned beyond the suggestion of parental guidance.  There is no drug use content in a PG rated motion picture. 

(Ratings descriptions were taken from the brochure printed by the The Classification and Rating Administration.  For more information, see www.filmratings.com.)

I was suprised that the PG rating meant that a movie may contain some profanity and brief nudity.  I hadn't given it much thought.  We only take the kids to movies that are G at the theater, but as far as movies that we rent to view at home, we weren't necessarily checking the rating.  I do monitor the cartoons that we view on tv and those usually are only on in the morning.  Once afternoon arrives, the cartoons appear to be targeted to older children. 

In the future, before I purchase any DVDs at Wal-Mart, I will be checking the rating.  I was very thankful that Dale watched the movie with the kids so that we were aware of the content. 

Revive Your Marriage - September Challenges

It's been awhile since I took part in a "challenge" series at Women Living Well.  Starting next Monday, the Revive Your Marriage series will be starting.  This is an area where many people, including my husband and I, could use some improvement.  Wouldn't you love to have the relationship with your husband that God intended for you to experience?  Check back next Monday to read about the first challenge.

T-shirts with a Life Changing Message

Do you love Christian t-shirts as much as I do?  I've always liked the cute sayings on the shirts made by Kerusso.  Check out Kerusso's site to see the many shirts they have available.

Morning Devotions

I've been asking God to show me how to teach my children and to guide us to materials that will help us.  Every night before bed, we read a story from one of our children's Bibles.  However, I really wanted to do something with the kids in the mornings before school to start our days off with a focus on God and something that concerned "character".  We stopped by Lifeway today and I found a wonderful little devotional for 2-5 year olds.  I had no idea that there was anything like that for young children. 

There was a book for girls and one for boys.  I picked the one for boys.  It's called "Fun Devotions for Boys: Gotta Have God 3".  Each devotion starts with a verse from the Bible followed by a short real life story, questions and an activity. 

My plan is to read and discuss the devotion in the mornings with both kids.  I'm excited about starting this because it seems to be perfect for us! 

Memory Verse for the Week

Dasia did well with last week's verse.  Dylan kind of got it, but I decided to move on anyway.  I think he does a great job for his age. 

Our verse to memorize for the week is Psalm 34:13.  Keep your tongue from evil.  My translation (NLT) reads, "Then watch your tongue!  Keep your lips from telling lies!

Learning to Read - Hooked on Phonics

Are you looking for a solution to teach your child to read?  Dasia has been reading simple books for several months, but was needing help moving on to more difficult words.  I purchased the Hooked on Phonics 1st grade set.  We tried out the program for the first time yesterday. 

The first lesson consisted of a short dvd lesson followed by a list of words to practice and a short book to read.  Although we are just beginning the program, I think that it will be very good due the repetition of sounds and words in each lesson.  Click here for Hooked on Phonics.

Are They Twins? - Family Fun Friday

Over the past year or so, I've been getting asked if Dasia and Dylan are twins.  Well, lately, the question is being asked a lot more.  Today, while spending the day shopping, I was asked multiple times if they were twins.  I guess they look alike, but I think the confusing part is that they are almost the same size.  Dylan is two weeks short of two years younger than Dasia.  He's only 1 lb lighter and 1 inch shorter.  They are now wearing the same shoe size and sometimes the same shirt size. 

One woman today said, "Well, maybe she'll catch up."  I guess it's possible, but since her mommy is 4 ft 10 inches, I wouldn't be too surprised if she doesn't.  I'm thinking 5 ft 1 in sounds good for Dasia!

I have a sister that is two and a half years younger than me and the same thing happened to us.  It took a few years, but she passed me up in size pretty easily.  I don't think Dasia understands yet that it's very likely that Dylan will be taller than her by this time next year (or sooner). 




 

Freedom

We officially started our first homeschool year on Monday.  Since I was still feeling a little uneasy about how to schedule our days, I decided to jump in this week with the curriculum that we had purchased for this year and just see what happened.  We were already doing school work a couple days a week mostly in the afternoon time.  But, we were just using the school books sold by Wal-Mart and other retail stores.  Actually, this haphazard style of learning that I had been doing with Dasia for the past year and a half had worked fairly well for us.  She learned to read, tell time to the hour, recognize coins, and simple addition.  So, with the success that we have already had, you would think that officially starting homeschool would not really feel any different.

But, it did.  I think all three of us felt strange.  Afer today, the feeling is starting to fade from me.  It might just be the fact that "offically" starting school created emotional pressure that just wasn't there before.  I just want God to lead us and this to be a wonderful experience (although there will be frustrations, because I don't think any child always wants to do school work every time it is presented).  I realize that it is perfectly fine to make changes as needed and to add or remove any curriculum that we are using in order to find out what works best for us.  Can you say FREEDOM?  As I'm writing, I'm being renewed by the Lord that this is a wonderful opportunity for Him to change me and teach Dale and I how to raise our children to love the Lord!

As I've learned to walk with God in every day life over the last several years, I have noticed that FREEDOM is very important. 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.  Romans 6:18

God wants all of us to be free to love Him, ourselves and others!  As you choose to walk with God and let Him change you, freedom becomes more evident in your life.  God can give you freedom from jealousy, self-hatred, addiction, debt...whatever you are facing, God wants His people FREE!

First Homeschool Outing - Family Fun Friday

Dasia playing with magnets.

Yesterday, we went to the Science Center in Carbondale.  The Science Center has a homeschool class once each month.  We attended the class for kindergarten through 8 years old.  The class was about dry ice.  The instructor did several experiments that the kids enjoyed.  Dasia paid attention the whole time.  Dylan did really good, but did get a little bored.  My mom went with us.  We all enjoyed the experience.  After the class was over, the kids played on the exhibits in the center.



Dylan attempting a skeleton puzzle.

Dylan loves puzzles.  He spent a lot of time with the one above.


Digging for dinosaur bones.

Dasia enjoyed looking for dinosaur bones.  She has played at an exhibit similar to this before, but she still had a good time.  I believe we will try to do this again.  It was a great experience for our first homeschool event.

Memory Verses - How We Do It

Just for fun

Back a few months ago, I came across a printable list of verses for children to memorize.  I loved the layout!  There was one verse for every letter of the alphabet and a checkbox to complete after the verse was memorized.  I printed a sheet for Dasia and one for Dylan and hung the lists on our closet door above our chore charts.  I thought others might be interested in using it for their children.  You can print the list here.

My goal is to learn a different verse every week.  However, sometimes the verses are long and we work on them for a longer time period.  And, sometimes I forget and we do not practice the verse enough during the week.  We are currently on letter H and the kids are doing great!  Each night after we read our Bible story and another book or two, I say the verse and have each child repeat it.  During Sunday School, I ask both of them to tell me their Bible verse.  I usually have to prompt them with the first couple of words.  If they get it mostly correct, they get to pick a prize out of our prize box.  Our prize box consists of $1 items that I let them choose from Wal-Mart and Target. 

Periodically, we recite the previous verses we memorized to keep them fresh in our minds.  Notice I said "our".  This has been not only a great way for the kids to learn scripture, but for me too!

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.  Psalms 119:11

Faith Comes by Hearing...

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  Romans 10:17

Do you ever feel like your faith is not what you would like it to be in a certain area?  What should you do about it?  Wish, pray, any other ideas?  What about reading and choosing to believe the Bible?  Lately, God has been teaching my husband and I in this area.  There are so many life categories where we may need to increase our faith such as finances, health, and family.  Let's dig into the Word and choose to believe what God has said!  As a result, our faith will increase.  Read the Word.  Speak the Word.  Watch as your faith increases!

And the Winner is....

And the winner of Joyce Meyer's book, "The Secret Power of Speaking God's Word" is...

Laura S.

Congratulations Laura!  You will receive an email shortly with further instructions.  Thanks to all who entered the giveaway!