52 lists - Autumn Bucket List

In some ways it doesn't feel like autumn but in other ways I am seeing signs of autumn. So what is on my autumn bucket list.

1. Get school going - We are starting a bit late this year because we were in the States and on holiday.

2. Go for a walk and kick the leaves.

3. Enjoy s'mores in the back garden.

4. Organise and decorate the entryway. I have maps to frame and hang. I want a rug. My goal is to have it feel nice and warm when you enter.

5. Have our annual Thanksgiving meal with our friends here.

6. Begin thinking and planning Christmas -- Christmas cards, projects, gifts, so that I am ready.

That should keep me busy the next few weeks.


I am joining Beauty Full Slow and the 52 lists.

Beth

Facing a Task Unfinished

Last week was spent away from my family. I think that was the first time that I have been away from them for a week. It was a bit different as often it is my husband traveling but this time it was me who was away. It was not a week alone but I was in Asia with 100 friends (I am using that word loosely). I will say that by the end of the week I did interact with quite a number of people and did make some friends. The theme of our week was The Unfinished Task.

Facing a Task Unfinished

"Facing a task unfinished

That drives us to our knees

A need that, undiminished

Rebukes our slothful ease

We, who rejoice to know Thee

Renew before They throne

The solemn pledge we owe Thee

To go and make Thee known

Where  other lords beside Thee

Hold their unhindered sway

Where forces that defied Thee

Defy Thee still today

With none to heed their crying

For life, and love, and light

Unnumbered souls are dying

And pass into the night

We go to all the world

With kingdom hope unfurled

No other name has power to save

But Jesus Christ The Lord

We bear the torch that flaming

Fell from the hands of those

Who gave their lives proclaiming

That Jesus died and rose

Ours is the same commission

The same glad message ours

Fired bye the same ambition

To Three we yield our powers

We go to all the world

With kingdom hope unfurled

No other name has power to save

But Jesus Christ The Lord

O Father who sustained them

O Spirit who inspired

Saviour, whose love contained them

To toil with zeal untired

From cowardice defend us

From lethargy awake!

Forth on Thing errands send us

To labour for Thy sake

We go to all the world

With kingdom hope unfurled 

No other name has power to save

But Jesus Christ The Lord

We go to all the world

His kingdom hope unfurled

No other name has power to save

But Jesus Christ The Lord"

- Original words by Frank Houghton, Music by Samuel Wesley. New words and music by Keith Getty, Kristyn, Getty, Ed Cash, and Fionan De Barra  © 2015 OMF International, Getty Music Publishing (BMI), Allotrop Music (BMI), and Fionan De Barra (All Admin by Musicservices.org)



Beth

Getting Started with French - TOS Review

The past few weeks we have been learning some basics of French using the book Getting Started with French: Beginning French for Homeschoolers and Self-Taught Students of Any Age published Armfield Academic Press.

This review came at a perfect time for us. My husband had begun talking about learning some French for future ministry and we were thinking about learning French before our holiday. Getting Started with French was just the book we needed.

Getting Started with French is written by William E. Linney and Brandon Simpson. William Linney has written other books in this series -- Getting Started with Latin and Getting Started with Spanish. The next book to be published is Getting Started with Russian.

Getting Started with French teaches French gradually with a systematic approach. The book is structured around the teaching concept of "Teach one concept at a time and let the student master that concept before introducing the next one."

The book has three pages of information about how to use the book. This is a list of tips to help you begin to learn French. This gives information about the structure of the lessons, reminders about pronunciation, information on how grammar is included in the lessons, and tips for conversational skills. There is also information about the exercises in each lesson, composition, and tests and quizzes. There are also some reminders that help you as you work through this book such as staying flexible, scheduling, how much time per day, and self-taught adults.

Getting Started with French has 172 lessons. The first few lessons are just some information about pronunciation, spelling and pronunciation, articles, and gender. All of this is important if you are learning a foreign language especially French. Each lesson teaches a new word. In the lesson is pronunciation tips and exercises. The lessons are short. A few lessons could be done in 15-30 minutes each day. The answers for the exercises are in the back of the book. There are pronunciation recordings for each lesson that can be downloaded.

Getting Started with French is a basic book to get started learning French. It gives you a head start before taking a course, a bit of French to decide if you want to continue studying, or maybe if you want to learn a bit of French before traveling to a French speaking location. This is not a complete French course. This is also designed for self-taught learners.

I have thoughts that this would be something that we could do together as a family. That did not quite go as I had planned. I did it a bit trying to find the French I studied for a semester in college but then my husband took the book and began working on it. My husband has studied foreign languages mainly German and Chinese but he has had not French. He has been working on this the past few weeks.

Here are some comments from my husband regarding this book.

"Unlike many other textbooks, everything you need comes with the purchase of the book. For example, the French audio recordings that accompany the lessons are available for free online. The authors have thought carefully about what independent, self-taught learners need, and the book is designed expressly to meet those needs. One aspect that I found especially helpful is the authors' anticipation of areas that are likely to be confusing or difficult for English speakers. It's so much better, in my opinion, to confront these difficulties head-on instead of waiting until the student develops bad habits or misunderstandings that have to be painfully corrected later! I have not finished the book, but am continuing to use it as I teach myself the language and look forward to making good progress with this excellent guide."

I knew he was enjoying this when I borrowed the book so I could write the review and he was asking me when I would be finished and he could have the book back.

You can read reviews from other members and see how they used this book.



Beth

What I did this summer.

This is called a catch up post. I know it has been a few weeks since I blogged.

We were in the USA for a short home assignment that is the term used now for what used to be call furlough or deputation. It isn't really a vacation but a time to meet with churches, supporters, prayer partners. We did have some time for fun between meetings.

One of the things we did was decorate gingerbread houses. I know that is not normally a summer activity but my nephew who was visiting Grandma's house at the same time suggested this activity. It was fun for the kids.

We took a break from school except for biology lab. It was easy to buy the kit while we were in the USA and do it there. I didn't want to try to bring this through customs. 

We went blueberry picking and then made some blueberry pies. The pie was delicious.

Beth