Today we're giving away four books, one of each of the books listed below. To win a book, tell us which book you'd like and why. In a few days we'll pick the four winners. 

Engaging Today's Prodigal: Clear Thinking, New Approaches, and Reasons for Hope by Carol Barnier

Embark on a voyage through the lungs! Dr. Lainna Callentine will be your tour guide! Dissect lungs and witness live demonstrations of lung functions at the Illinois Christian Home Educators 2013 Convention.

Dr. Lainna Callentine demonstrating a dissection.

Please help us strengthen homeschooling in Illinois. Like our Illinois Christian Home Educators Facebook page and comment on our blog -- this helps get info out to new homeschooling families in Illinois.

Common Core K-12 State Standards have been adopted by the state of Illinois, along with 45 other states. All the public schools and many private schools have aligned themselves to the standards of Common Core.

Why should Common Core alarm Illinois homeschool families?

There are four main reasons:

I remember when I was growing up in the late 60’s and early 70’s; more than one evangelical preacher predicted the apocalyptic day when our Bibles would be taken from us Christians.  Believers were encouraged to memorize scriptures, goaded not by the Spirit of God, but by the intimidating threat that God’s Word would one day be unavailable.  Now, some three decades later, the plethora of Bible translations as well as Bibles on cd’s, dvd’s, downloads and the internet could easily generate a long and hearty laugh at those fearful prophecies of old.&nbsp

“We Go Not Forth Alone . . .”

Lights come in different forms (incandescent, fluorescent, and LED) and functionalities (fixed, portable)--you name it, you will find it!! While each has its place for individual practice, ALL of them are pivotal in  the intended purpose--to provide illuminated visual enlargement, enrichment, and enhancement. In a world of egregious darkness, the Gospel is THE Light which offers the avenue to, and the attainment of, eternal destiny.

Stock up on your homeschool art and craft supplies at Miller Pads and Paper. They'll be located in the Exhibit Hall at next month's Illinois Christian Home Educators convention. All weekend you can see their amazing sales and new products -- here are JUST A FEW of the things they carry:

Is there Sizzle Bop in your home? Sizzle Bop is a gift, and, though many will dwell on the negatives, you can choose to embrace this gift in your child, your spouse, or in yourself. Next month at the Illinois Christian Home Educators 2013 State Convention, Carol Barnier will talk to us about Sizzle Bop.

“I could have done more . . .”

“Jesus Loves the Little Children . . .”  This is one song most of us have known since our early childhoods. Children were living object lessons in the Gospels for Christ’s teaching on the Kingdom of Heaven. Sadly, throughout the hallways of history, children have invariably been treated as collateral damage. In Poland during World War Two, there were unthinkable genocidal crusades against the will of the Jewish population.

"For seven days you shall keep the feast to the Lord your God at the place that the Lord will choose, because the Lord your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, so that you will be altogether joyful.”—Deut. 16:15 (ESV)