November Joy Dare

1-3 Gifts Eaten
1} Chocolate Muffin in a Mug...WONDERFULLY decadent and ON PLAN!
2} Starbucks Chicken and Greens Salad
3} Adam's Peanut Butter Cup Fudge Ripple Cheesecake...I had the VERY TINIEST of bites (NOT AT ALL ON PLAN) but it was SO INCREDIBLE!

2- 3 Gifts Worn
1} Red & Khaki
2} Warm fuzzy Spa Socks
3} ANYTHING BUT Red & Khaki!

3- 3 Gifts that Start with N
1} Nutella
2} Naps
3} November...a month where the focus is on being thankful, times spent with family, comfort food, crazy work schedules, and so much more!

4-A Gift Gathered, Given, Good
1} The end of our amazing elections at co-op...as the votes were gathered, we had a new president for co-op
2} Grace from these sweet Momma friends I am privileged to spend time with EVERY Monday!
3} The Brannon's came to our Support Group Meeting...their sharing was SO GOOD!

5-3 Gifts Acorn Small
1} Origami Owl Lockets and Charms ...a small thing that has been a great blessing
2} Popcorn- My friend Cindy was eating this when she came and rescued me when my car broke down...
3} Mustard Seed Faith- God is so good..He shows us that He knows our needs and can provide for them in ways we cannot even imagine!

6-3 Gifts Government
1} Democratic Republic-we are a representative government
2} We have freedoms outlined in our founding documents and Constitution, Bill of Rights
3} Isaiah 9:6- The government rests upon HIS shoulders

7-3 Gifts from Your Window
1} Peaceful country scenery as we drive to and from band/choir practice
2} DOT signs warning of accidents and breakdowns, so we are able to find an alternate route
3} Stars- More than we can count...and God knows each one by name

8-\A Gift Sweet, Salty, Sipped
1} Fritos Scoops
2} Lou's Chocolate Chip Cookies
3} Eggnog Latte

9-3 Gifts Harvest
1} Beautiful Fall Colors showing the color that has always been there
2} Amazing Fall Smells of rich spices and warm and comforting goodness
3} Incredible Fall Foods that boost of the goodness of God in all things

10-3 Gifts Found in Bible Reading
1} Guidance
2} Sustenance
3} Encouragement

11-3 Gifts of Remembrance
1} Seeing the hand of God and remembering His faithfulness
2} Praying for the needs of others
3} Thankfulness for those who have fought for our freedoms, for which MANY have died

12-3 Gifts at Noon
1} Justice
2} Mercy
3} Love

13-3 Gifts Behind a Door
1} Children...with greetings of HELLO
2} Vacuum...therapeutic for me
3} a hot soak in the tub

14- 3 Gifts Silent
1} Early Morning work done when all are still sleeping
2} A few moments before bedtime, when I read...for as long as I can...zzzz
3} Bible Study

15-3 Gifts Golden
1} Wedding ring
2} Homemade chicken soup
3} Cough drops

16-3 Gifts Hard Eucharisteo
1} Hard things that continue to come, but I know God has His plan and He shows me His personal loving care for me so very often
2} Boys to Men...can be a hard process some days
3} Working for a company in NW Washington that does not work in the rain

17- 3 Gifts of Laughter
1} A night of sweet co-op aunties...working and laughing together...you ladies bless me richly
2} Bedtime snuggles with a little boy
3} Siblings playing together

18- A Gift Made, Shared, Passed On
1} Pickles for co-op teachers...thanking them for being such a blessing
2} Time spent with the Co-op Aunties
3} A Starbucks Gift Card

19-3 Gifts of Autumn
1} Warm Sweaters
2} Hot Soups
3} Dark Nights

20- 3 Gifts of Traditions
1} Christmas Music Playing
2} Tree Trimming
3} Our NEW Tradition...the Christmas Morning Surprise...better watch out!

21-3 Gifts of Family
1} Common History
2} Unconditional Love
3} A Sense of Being Home

22-A Gift of Grateful-
I am thankful for the daily ways God sustains and encourages me

23- 3 Gifts Only In Christ
1} Grace
2} Peace
3} Life

24- 3 Gifts Humble
1} My Bank Account...and yet our needs are met
2} A Fixed Vehicle...the IMPOSSIBLE looking situation becoming possible
3} Knowing there is a "Saul" in the process of becoming a "Paul"...but not seeing how it could possibly happen...Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Mt. 19:26

25-3 Gifts Ugly-Beautiful
1}Motherhood often looks ugly to us...our failings, things we didn't do, etc, but can be so beautiful when viewed from our children's eyes
2} The end of another co-op term...A break is always nice...a few weeks off from the Monday Madness, but I have grown to love these families so dearly, that the last day will be hard...but February will be here before we know it.
3} The preparation days leading up to the Holidays can be a busy stressful mess, but learning to simplify and make new traditions to keep the focus on Christ and family create a special atmosphere and amazing memories

26-3 Gifts Preparing
1} To work Black Friday
2} Gathering fun things to do in December
3} Christmas Gifts

27- A Gift Handmade, Held, Happy
1} The sweet Nativity set my children made...best Nativity set ever!
2} Bags for Guests at work
3} An AWANA FREE Week...My Girls are working so hard and doing such a great job learning verses and bringing friends to club...but a Wednesday night at home is a rare treat!

28- 3 Gifts in Community
1} Running into friends and neighbors at Target
2} Team Members on a long day...encouragement, understanding, support
3} Helping in a windstorm in the middle of the night

29- 3 Gifts Red
1} My Starbucks mugs- a newer tradition  for my hubby and I...when Starbucks has their 12 Days of Christmas special, we grab matching mugs!
2} Breathe Again Young Living Essential Oil...red label...I LOVE this oil...I can INSTANTLY feel my airways opening up.
3} The tag on my key ring from the mechanic, which reminds me to pray for his business.

30- 3 Gifts Astonishing
1} God's GREAT LOVE
2} His UNFATHOMABLE MERCY
3} His UNCONTAINABLE GRACE

Sufficiency of Scripture

The Jews picked up stones again to stone Him. Jesus answered them, “I showed you many good works from the Father; for which of them are you stoning Me?” The Jews answered Him, “For a good work we do not stone You, but for blasphemy; and because You, being a man, make Yourself out to be God.” Jesus answered them, “Has it not been written in your Law, ‘I said, you are gods’? If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture cannot be broken), do you say of Him, whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, ‘You are blaspheming,’ because I said, ‘I am the Son of God’? If I do not do the works of My Father, do not believe Me; but if I do them, though you do not believe Me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in Me, and I in the Father.” Therefore they were seeking again to seize Him, and He eluded their grasp.

40 And He went away again beyond the Jordan to the place where John was first baptizing, and He was staying there. 41 Many came to Him and were saying, “While John performed no sign, yet everything John said about this man was true.” 42 Many believed in Him there.

John 10:31-42

Sufficiency of Scripture

At that time the Feast of the Dedication took place at Jerusalem; it was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple in the portico of Solomon. The Jews then gathered around Him, and were saying to Him, “How long will You keep us in suspense? If You are the Christ, tell us plainly.” Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe; the works that I do in My Father’s name, these testify of Me. But you do not believe because you are not of My sheep. My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.”

John 10: 22-30

Sufficiency of Scripture

A division occurred again among the Jews because of these words. Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is insane. Why do you listen to Him?” Others were saying, “These are not the sayings of one demon-possessed. A demon cannot open the eyes of the blind, can he?”

John 10:19-21

Sufficiency of Scripture

“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.”

John 10:11-18

See The Light Art Projects-Sunflowers

See The Light
Art Projects
Sunflowers in the Style of Van Gogh
Ages: 10 and up
Price: $14.99, with discount options

See The Light offers Art Instruction Products that draw children's hearts to the Savior. From the website,

With a love for the Lord Jesus Christ, a heart for children, and a passion for ministry, Dave and Pat Holt bring you the SEE THE LIGHTteam: 

ARTISTS with specialties that include teaching a large variety of techniques, art history, chalk artistry, performance art, gospel chalk art (with black light), crafts, creative lettering, and more; 

MUSICIANS whose talents include songwriting, musical performance, arranging, and producing. 

The SEE THE LIGHT team is dedicated to bringing scripture and biblical principles to viewers in a fresh, engaging way. . . and promising to teach some exciting art skills along the way!

With that as the background to the materials, I was EXCITED to jump right in!  We selected the Sunflowers Lesson in the Style of Vincent Van Gogh and waited for it to arrive! When we received our DVD and went off and got what we needed...which for this particular project was not very much...a sheet of pastel paper, a set of oil pastels, paper towels or napkins, an artificial sunflower and wipes.  I think we spent around $10 for everything we got (We had some pastels and got another inexpensive set and the Sunflowers were on a DEEP DISCOUNT...got two nicer ones for about $1.50).  Materials vary from project to project and are clearly noted both on the website and on the DVD cover.  Lessons in the Art Projects line include:

DRAW A WINDOW IN THE STYLE OF LOUIS COMFORT TIFFANY

- DRAW A WATERCOLOR PAINTING IN THE STYLE OF AMERICAN POP ARTIST WAYNE THIEBAUD

- CREATE A PAPER COLLAGE IN THE STYLE FRENCH ARTIST HENRI ROUSSEAU

- CREATE A FRUIT STILL LIFE IN THE STYLE OF FRENCH ARTIST GEORGES SEURAT

- CREATE AN ABSTRACT FLOWER IN THE STYLE OF AMERICAN ARTIST GEORGIA O’KEEFFE

- CREATE AN ACRYLIC OR TEMPERA PAINTING IN THE STYLE OF RUSSIAN ARTIST MARC CHAGALL

- DRAW A CHALK PASTEL IN THE STYLE OF FRENCH ARTIST EDGAR DEGAS

- PAINT A WATERCOLOR SEASCAPE IN THE STYLE OF AMERICAN ARTIST WINSLOW HOMER

- CREATE AN OIL PASTEL SUNFLOWER IN THE STYLE OF DUTCH ARTIST VINCENT VAN GOGH

So, MY plan was to have my children work on the lessons, one at a time...spreading it out between 2-4 days.  Lessons are ABOUT 30 minutes long ( I say ABOUT, because there is quite a bit of pausing that happens as your child draws.).  Well, my children were SO INTO the project, they did all four lessons back to back...so we had ART DAY, which was fine with me for that day...just letting you know in case your children are tempted to do the same and it does not work in your schedule for that particular day.  This project was for children aged 10 and up, which is THE PERFECT AGE...I let my 7 year old do it as well and he was OFTEN frustrated...I think his drawing looked WONDERFUL but he was not happy with it when compared to his siblings..

Pat Knepley is the instructor for this project and I loved the way she interacts as she instructs.  She gives TIDBITS about Vincent Van Gogh's life and works.  She does not give a complete history, but little feels for the artist as you work alongside her in that artist's style of art.  It whets the appetite for more and your child may decide he or she wants to know more.  As she is instructing, Pat talks about Van Gogh's spiritual life and adds Scripture that is relevant to what is happening in the lesson.  I LOVED the very natural way that I saw this put into place...it is more than art...These products point to the Savior!

The Project we chose was broken down into 4 lessons: Planning the Composition, Detail the Petals and Leaves, Fill in the Negative Space, Shadows and Highlights.  Each lesson was VERY CLEARLY laid out.  My children were able to understand what they were supposed to do.  While I thought that the video quality  and  instruction were excellent, it would have been nice to get some views from straight on  a little more, so the student would see the artwork from the angle they were working from.  There were some views from that angle, but not as close up as I would have liked...often you are viewing the sample work from the side.  Throughout the instruction, there are tips and reminders of what to do as well as taking care of your supplies or protecting your project from smears (we were working with Oil Pastels and there were cautions for little pieces on your page and reminders to clean your hands from time to time so as NOT to add color where you didn't want it.)

Well, I do have to say, I LOVED See The Light Art Projects.  I was BLOWN away by the work my children produced in such a SHORT time and they had fun and would LOVE TO DO MORE.  As I mentioned above, you can get each project for $14.99, or the set of 9 for $99.99, but there is also a subscription option where you get one of the Art Projects lessons sent to you each month for $12.50...I LOVE that and I think I am going to sign up for that option.  See the Light Art Projects Lessons can be used for a Fine Arts High School Credit and there is a PDF on the website detailing a possible lesson plan for both a half credit and full credit option.
Here are some of our Pictures:

Rough Sketching the composition of the drawing

After Lesson One- The Princess

After Lesson 1- The 'Nager

After Lesson 1- DD

Filling in the Negative Spaces- Princess

Filling in the Negative Spaces- DD

Yippee for ART DAY!

Filling in the Negative Spaces- The 'Nager

The 'Nager's final project...The Princess gave her drawing away...so no final picture of hers...I think DD crumbled his up, but you can see most of it in the picture above.

Do you have younger children you would like to have art instruction too?   The Bible Stories DVD set may be just the thing for you.  I have not tried it, but it looks fantastic!  Here you can view a short video on About The Light and one that is a Conversation between Pat and a homeschool mom and mostly covers the Art Class series, but touches on all three product lines.  I LOVED what Pat said in this video, " You really can't separate the Master Creator, God, from learning about art and how to draw."

Not sure if See the Light is for you...well, here are some resources to look at:
Blog
Free Lessons
Downloads
Video Tips

See what other reviewers had to say about See The Light Art Projects here