~ July 2017 ~

Dear Readers,

The Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, were brave patriots who vigorously supported—and defended—their newly declared country. After the American Revolution, patriotism was so popular that people even gave their children patriotic names such as Independence, Liberty, and America. Now more than ever, the future of liberty depends on raising young patriots to reclaim America’s founding principles.

Rush Limbaugh, host of The Rush Limbaugh Show, has produced an entertaining series of historical fiction books that introduce readers to the early days of our independent nation. The Adventures of Rush Revere books include: Rush Revere and the Brave Pilgrims, Rush Revere and the First Patriots, Rush Revere and the American Revolution, Rush Revere and the Star-Spangled Banner, and Rush Revere and the Presidency.

Freedom is a natural outcome of a proper education. That’s why Rush and Kathryn Limbaugh and everyone at the Adventures of Rush Revere Series are proud to support the homeschool mission nationwide. They say, “You are a very special group of patriots dedicated to providing the best education possible for the younger generations. Thank you for your wonderful work!”

This year, Rush Revere has been sponsoring homeschool conferences across America. Maybe you’ve seen them there. You can also find lots of online resources at RushRevere.com and RushRevereHomeschool.com.

Enjoy your 4th of July as we celebrate America!

Featured Article

Long days, hot weather, and vacation time all provide abundant opportunity for reading - but with so many books to choose from, you don't want to waste time on mediocre ones. How to Choose a Good Book offers general guidelines on what to look for.

Some books are written in such a way that they are ideally suited for reading aloud. Such books utilize words, sentences, and figurative language in creative ways to enhance the plot development, bring the characters to life, and create a mood. I've put together a list of Read-Aloud Favorites that adults can enjoy reading and no child should grow up without hearing.

For some cool reading fun geared around summer getaway themes, check out my Summer Reading List. (Many of these titles are also on the read-aloud list!) You can download a printable copy for your convenience. It’s annotated and organized by age/grade. Take it along with you the next time you visit the library. Happy Reading!

Book of the Month

If you haven't already, be sure to order some Citizens Rule Books for your family and friends. My late father-in-law, a World War II Marine Corps veteran and printer from Boston, printed and distributed this pocket-sized booklet to inform American citizens of their rights. Family-owned and operated Whitten Printers of Phoenix, Arizona, continues to print and distribute this booklet. The pocket-sized book includes the Declaration of Independence, the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, plus quotes by our Founding Fathers and information for jurors. Only $1 each!

Famous Homeschoolers

The largest battle ever waged in the Western Hemisphere was fought near the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, over the course of three days from July 1 to July 3, 1863.

Robert E. Lee, commander-in-chief of the Confederate Army, had concentrated his army around Gettysburg upon the approach of Union General George Meade’s forces. Although his strategy at Gettysburg failed, ultimately resulting in the South's surrender, Lee remains one of the best-loved and respected men in American history. A devout Christian, he was admired not only by his own soldiers, but by northerners as well because of his fine character.

Lee grew up on a Virginia plantation where he was taught by his mother; Lee's own children were also educated at home. Read more at: www.famoushomeschoolers.net/bio_lee.html.

Reading Between the Lines

A few weeks ago, I finally got around to watching Gone with the Wind for the first time since I was a child. (It was free on Amazon Prime.) The cinematography was spectacular, but I didn't like the characters at all. Scarlett is a manipulative, selfish person, and Rhett is a devil-may-care scoundrel and gambler. I guess that's why they were made for each other, but I sure wouldn't want to have Scarlett as a friend. At any rate, when it comes to Civil War movies, I prefer Gettysburg!

Gettysburg (1993, PG) is a must-see movie! We have a family tradition of watching it every year at this time. It's the epic story of the three day battle that forever changed the course of the American Civil War. The movie was pretty much taken verbatim from the well-researched book, Killer Angels, by Michael Shaara; and director Ronald F. Maxwell invested painstaking attention to detail in the movie, creating a historically accurate depiction of the events leading up to and including the battle. Gettysburg compassionately portrays the personal struggles of real men on both sides, and provides insight into what the war was about. By the way, it wasn't all about slavery - they were fighting for state's rights.

Gettysburg actually features some of the most authentic Civil War battle scenes ever created, culminating with Pickett’s charge, the most courageous and heartbreaking infantry assault in military history. For the first time in 130 years, the actual site was allowed to be used as a movie set. In addition to an all-star cast, the movie featured over 13,000 volunteer Civil War re-enactors who came from all over the world, paid their own way, provided their own uniforms and props, and recreated the battles in front of the cameras. While filming during the summer, the re-enactors also experienced the same conditions as their predecessors. For example, the original soldiers had just marched for miles and had no water when they attempted to conquer a hill in 98-degree heat. Out of respect, the re-enactors who played that part removed their own canteens during the filming of the movie. Buy the DVD or watch instantly on Amazon.

Learning Links

The Birth of America - Fun facts about the American Revolution.

Fourth of July Fireworks - Create some virtual fireworks!

Fireworks and How They Work - Learn about all the different styles of fireworks, how they work, what chemicals they're made of, and more!

Ice Cream - July is National Ice Cream Month!

In the Good Old Summertime - Fun facts about summer, with a list of things to do this summer.

Summer Reading List - A list of stories set at the seashore, woods, mountains, campground, countryside and backyard.

Summer Movies - Some of these have summer themes and others just evoke the feeling of a summer adventure.

Play it Safe in the Sun - Sunshine on your shoulders may make you happy, but it can also give you a sunburn.

Summer Safety - Stay out of the heat, and be extra careful around water!

Solar Cooking - Instructions for building a solar oven, plus recipes.

Take a Virtual Vacation - If you’re an armchair traveler, the Internet is the place for you!

Family Travel Tips - How to make family travel more enjoyable for kids and parents alike.

Freebie of the Month

Declaration of Independence - Download a FREE copy of the Declaration of Independence. Read it with your family as part of your Independence Day celebration.

How to Get the Most Out of a Homeschool Convention
- This 14-page special report includes a handy checklist!

Here are some lists that will help with your summer travels!

Road Trip Log - This is what we use to keep track of our miles, times, and places wherever we go; then we save them in a family trip binder for future reference.

Camping Checklist - A vacation packing list that our family has used over the years, with space to add your own items.

Family Trip Plan - We start getting ready for our trip a week ahead of time, by following this list of things to do.

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

Quote of the Month

“If My people which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” ~II Chronicles 7:14

A Note From Teri...

Wishing you a Happy July 4th! As part of your Independence Day festivities, cool off with some red, white, and blue (strawberry, vanilla, and blueberry) ice cream! Vanilla and strawberry are easy to find at the store, and you can make your own blueberry ice cream. Here's how:

You Will Need:
2 cups blueberries
2 cups half-and-half
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Pick the blueberries and rinse them clean. Mash them in a bowl with a fork until at desired texture. In a large bowl, combine the half-and-half, condensed milk, cream and vanilla. Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker, adding the blueberry puree once the mixture is frozen to a thickness of soft-serve ice cream. OR you can make it without an ice cream machine, by stirring the blueberry puree into some softened vanilla store-bought ice cream. Top with fresh blueberries and enjoy!

Happy Homeschooling!

P.S. Did you like this month's newsletter?