Pioneer Unit Study Resource List

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As I mentioned previously, we are taking a month or two to investigate pioneer life!    

As I compiled our resource list for this project, I discovered that there are innumerable resources for such an endeavor!  Much more than we could ever do, or rather more than we would want to do!  I must confess that I found myself a little overwhelmed with all of the crafts to make and books to read.

Finally though, I did settle on what I think turned out to be a good little study. 

There were other projects that were really great but were either more work than I want to do, too expensive, or similar to something else we are doing. 

Our main goals for this study are that it be SUPER FUN and that we LEARN A LOT, so I left out those activities that were work-heavy/expensive/repititious.

I wanted to share what we'll be doing in the hopes that it will be helpful to any of you who are looking for pioneer study resources.  Included are links to the coloring pages, crafts, recipes and a few really amazing things that I found online!

Summer Study of Pioneer Life

Teach Them About Jesus

Last night, I was reading and praying. I guess I started to doze off because I was jolted awake suddenly when a horrible thought popped into my head.

The thought was of our family getting into a car accident and my daughter dying. I actually saw it in my mind.
I wonder if other parents have had that those thoughts or dreams...maybe I'm just strange.

Right at that moment I felt these words so strongly impressed upon my heart:

Teach them about Jesus--there is no time for anything else.

This persisted in my mind all night.  I told Jeff about these things and when we were putting the kids to bed last night we took some time to talk about having assurance of our salvation.  There is nothing that terrifies me so much as the thought of my children dying without knowing that they have assurance that they are saved. (Romans 8:16)

I'll keep the details private, but Jeff and I were so blessed to see that God set up that word for our daughter, Megan.  She has made her statement of faith, and we wait expectantly for that day when she comes to us with her "assurance" story!  (Hopefully that made sense--I couldn't think of what else to call it!)

My prayer for my children recently is Hebrews 10:22:

"Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water."

Truly saved.  Not "I raised my hand at church one day," but to have turned from their sin and sought forgiveness through Jesus.  My greatest desire as a mother is to know that my children love and obey the Lord and will be with Him in heaven some day.

Dear Mothers,

Teach them about Jesus--there is no time for anything else.

Bouncing Off The Wall!!!

Today we discovered a thrilling land filled with bouncy play houses, jump ropes and balls.

It is a land where you can run full-throttle indoors as long as you are good at bobbing-and-weaving.

Kids can scream and yell and jump on pretty much everything they see.  Grown-ups can, too!  I saw a few Dad's who were having as much fun as the kids!

That land is called Bouncing Off the Wall.

The Cato's invaded that place today.

We bounced and slid until we could bounce and slide no more.

And of course, we injured ourselves.

Well, the injury actually occurred after we left the bounce house.  This is why it is not a good idea to race your siblings to the car. 

Seems like a fun idea until you're tasting the pavement.