Dear Readers,

Can you believe it's March already and Spring is right around the corner? They always say “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Usually that refers to the weather, but in our case we got hit with a storm of a different kind. All of a sudden we had to rush our 18-year-old son to the emergency room with severe pain in his lower right abdomen. Sure enough, it was a ruptured appendix. Now what are the chances of that happening at the same time Dad is out of work and we have no insurance? Plus, it was just before the start of midterm exams! Peter underwent an appendectomy and was in the hospital for 4 days. The good news is, the infection was confined to a small area but it still took several days to get it under control with IV antiobiotics before he could come home. At this point we're not yet sure when he will be well enough to return to school. We were concerned about him missing so many assignment deadlines and midterm exams, not to mention how that would affect his GPA. But all of his college instructors have been very understanding and told him to just concentrate on getting better and not to worry about anything. One even offered to let him take the midterm at home! Right now I'm thankful that Peter is back home. While in the hospital we had many flashbacks to when he had open heart surgery at 3 years of age. I hated to see him suffering so much pain again. Hopefully the end of this month will be a little more peaceful! “Many are the afflictions of the righteous but the Lord delivers him out of them all.” ~Psalm 34:19

P.S. Spring is a great time for getting outdoors and studying nature. This Spring why not create a wildlife habitat for birds, butterflies, and other creatures in your yard! My fully illustrated 28-page Gardening for Wildlife e-book will walk you through the process step by step. This month it's on sale for only $4.95! Click here for details.

Enjoy these free printable worksheets!

"Give Me Liberty or Death" Speech - Print this out and practice your oratory skills by reciting it on March 23, the anniversary of Patrick Henry's famous speech.

Patrick Henry Study Guide - Exclusive 12-page study guide to accompany the above.

(*Requires Adobe Reader: click here for free download.)

Think Green

Spring is one of my favorite seasons, just as green has always been one of my favorite colors. Spring arrives early in Arizona, where even the desert miraculously turns green at this time of year. Nurtured by winter rains, all of the dead-looking dried-out plants come alive, and the ground is covered with a lush carpet of vegetation. No wonder the ancient Egyptians considered green to be a sacred, joyous color. Green is the universal color of nature and spring. Green signifies life, healing, renewal, hope, and GROWTH. Read this devotional article here.

The Color of Green

When I was a girl, my favorite color was green. I always liked Saint Patrick's Day because that was the only day I could go to school dressed in green clothing from head to foot without looking completely conspicuous. The other kids would take one look at me and say, "You must be Irish!" and I would reply, "Nope, I just like green." Read all about the color green here.

Saint Patrick's Day

Saint Patrick's Day, March 17th, is a national Irish holiday honoring Saint Patrick, the missionary credited with converting all the people of Ireland to Christianity in the 5th century. Read all about Saint Patrick and The Emerald Isle here.

Two of my favorite movies just happen to focus on Irish themes: The Secret of Roan Inish and The Quiet Man, both of which were filmed on location in northern Ireland.

The Secret of Roan Inish is an enchanting tale based on an ancient Irish legend about a boy raised by seals. The name "Roan Inish" is Gaelic for "Island of the Seals." Based on a 1959 novel by Rosalie Fry entitled "Secret of the Ron Mor Skerry," The Secret of Roan Inish tells the story of a young girl, Fiona, whose mother dies and so she is sent to live with her grandparents in the years immediately after WWII. I don't want to give away the plot, but while exploring a nearby abandoned island she uncovers a mystery that holds a special significance for her family. This independent film was skillfully shot with beautiful windswept coastal scenery, a lilting Celtic soundtrack, and real Irish actors. One thing that really inspired me was the work ethic of the two young characters! The Secret of Roan Inish is a wonderful film for all ages.

The Quiet Man, starring John Wayne, is not just for John Wayne fans. It was filmed in 1952 by the famous director John Ford (whose birth name was Sean Aloysius O'Fearna). This classic film was a departure for Wayne and Ford, who were best known for Westerns. The entertaining two-hour-long movie takes place in the lovely Irish countryside. It has plenty of romance for the girls and action for the guys. (Including a horse race as well as one of the longest and most memorable knock-down, drag-out fights ever choreographed on film!) The movie is a serious drama interspersed with many comedic moments. Although personally I think the characters spend a little too much time in the local pub, I like how they demonstrate the proper Irish way of courtship - obtaining the family's permission first, making an official announcement, and having a chaperone along at all times. It's also interesting to see the amicable relationship portrayed between the local Roman Catholic church and Protestant church. Incidentally, John Wayne is of Irish and Scots-Irish descent. His red-headed co-star, Maureen O'Hara, was born in Dublin, Ireland.

In both of the above movies, whenever a guest enters someone's home they say "May God bless all in this house." I wonder if that's an Irish custom? If so, it's a good one!

Knowledge House

Homeschool Patriot

Little Brick Schoolhouse

Homeschooling Teen

Arizona Edventures

A Note From Teri...

Check out my page of online classes, courses, and tutorials at www.knowledgehouse.info/online.html. I've added 18 more to my list, and many of them are free. Subjects include: aerospace, art, basic skills, typing, computers, music, writing, Christianity, and Western civilization. One special online audio course that I would like to bring to your attention is "Say What You Mean: Defending the Faith" from my friend and fellow home- schooling mom JoJo Tabares. Register now because the class starts this month! Coming next month will be "The Language of Leadership." JoJo's communication courses are very reasonably priced for what you get. You can take them at your own pace, attend for as long as you want, and even take them over again. The nominal one-time course fee gives you unlimited access. Plus they're good for anyone living in your home so there's no need to pay extra for additional students.

Happy Homeschooling!