Life of Fred; Apples, Chapter 7

Stop drop and roll on over to Noah's Ark Homeschool Academy on Wordpress to download the FREE printable work page pack that accompanies this lesson.

• Million Drop Rain

• How many cloud droplets does it take to make one raindrop?
• Use the raindrop manipulative's from Chapter 6 to practice equations for parts of seven.
• Archimedes

• Review what you have learned about Archimedes in Chapter 6.
• How old is Fetti's Painting? Take the year it is now and subtract the year that Fetti painted Archimedes Thoughtful and record your results in your math journal.
• Do the math to figure out what year photography was invented and record your results in your math journal.
• Draw a picture of what you think Archimedes looks like and give your Masterpiece a title.  Write a synopsis of what you have learned thus far about Archimedes.
• Answer these questions in your synopsis:
• Why did Archimedes do math?
• What did he use his math knowledge for?
• What was Archimedes last words?
• Watch this video about Pi and Circles.
• Watch this video ahead of your children and prepare the supplies for your children to complete this project.
• Set your clock to 10:00
• Play this USA Geography game to learn the states.
• Here are some more games to learn the states.
• Now that you've practiced try to fill out a blank map of the United States of America.

• Alligators, whales, and ocean liners OH MY! Algebra with Y!

• Practice the days of the week and do the copy work.

• Draw and label a staircase to 50 in your math journal.

• Euclid and The Elements
• Learn about Euclid.
• Here is more great information about Euclid and his math contributions.
• Watch this video of what The Elements was about.
• Write a short essay entitled "Where I Live" including information about the climate, numbers associated with where you live, sizes or shapes where you live, and a few fun facts.
• Do a scavenger hunt to find {sets} of things where you live.

Mr. Popper's Penguins Unit Study Chapters 7-9

 Stop drop and roll over to Noah's Ark Homeschool Academy on Wordpress to download the Mr. Popper's Penguins Study Guide for Chapter's 7-9 to accompany this lesson.  Make sure to check out our other Study Guides as well.

 

Chapter 7
 

• Vocabulary Words
• reluctantly
• splendid
• idle
• subdued
• astonishment
• remarkable
• reproach
• rookery
• Questions
• Why was Mr. Popper making himself neat?
• Who cleaned the Popper's house?
• Who made the messes?
• What was Captain Cook looking for?
• Why was Captain Cook picking up?
• What was Mr. and Mrs. Popper astonished about?
• How many items did Captain Cook have in his rookery?
• How many trips would it take to bring each item one at a time?
• 2 at a time?
• 5 at a time?
• 10 at a time?
• What have you learned about rookeries and what they mean to penguins?
• What is a rookery?
• Why do penguins make rookeries?
• What purpose do rookeries serve?
• What do penguins usually build their rookeries with?
• What did Mrs. Popper reproach Mr. Popper for?
• Who did Mr. Popper look like?
• What do you think Mr. Popper will use the clothesline for?
• Rookery means something else when talking about Emperor Penguins.  Follow this link to find out what rookery means when talking about Emperor Penguins and take an expedition!
• Here is a picture of Adelie Penguins caring for their egg.
• Read and look at pictures of penguins in Antarctica and their rookeries.  (Don't miss this one!  Great information and pictures!)
• Captain Cook is an Adelie penguin.  Have your child do a report on Adelie penguins.  Your child can use this site all about Adelie penguins to do research for their report.
• Upper Elementary children can use this site also to gain more information for their report.
• Here is another great resource to help with the report.

 

 

Chapter 8

• Vocabulary Words
• promenade
• vigorously
• bystanders
• Questions
• What convinced Captain Cook to let Mr. Popper lead him?
• What is a Sunday derby?
• Make your own paper bowler / derby hat!
• How did Captain Cook get down the porch steps?
• Who was the first person they met on their walk?
• Why did Mrs. Callahan say "Heaven preserve us?"
• Mrs. Callahan mistook Captain Cook for an owl, goose, or anteater.  The reporter's mistook Captain Cook for a Pelican.  Compare and contrast these different animals against each other and against a penguin.  What do they have in common and what are their differences?
• Make a mental map in your head of the neighborhood the Popper's live in.  Start at the Popper's house then walk down Proudfoot Ave. to the Drug Store on the corner of Proudfoot Ave. and Main st.  Now draw your map on a piece of paper.  Decorate it with trees and cars and whatever else you think would be in their neighborhood.  Remember that they lived a long time ago, so things looked different then.
• What are boric crystals and what did Captain Cook mistake them for?
• Learn about boric crystals by doing this experiment and growing your very own crystal.  Don't forget to watch the video.
• Who were the two young men and what was their interest in Mr. Popper and Captain Cook?
• What did the reporter say that the public will want to know?
• Do you think the reporter believed Mr. Popper that he got Captain Cook as a present from Admiral Drake? Why or why not?
• Learn more about reporters and what they do.
• Did you know that kids can be reporters too?
• http://www.sikids.com/KidReporter
• http://www.timeforkids.com/kid-reporters
• Have your children read a few articles too.
• What does a reporter / journalist do?
• Let's write a Newspaper!
• Add the Barber Shop to your map.
• Take a virtual tour of a Barber Shop.
• If you are lucky enough to have a Barber Shop in your town take your child to see it first hand.  If you have a boy ask the barber to give him a pretend shave.
• If you can't visit one yourself here is a video of a man getting a shave in a barber shop.
• Have your child set up a pretend barber shop and give everyone in your family a haircut and shave.

Chapter 9

• Vocabulary Words
• Spectacle
• What was the spectacle that Captain Cook found very interesting?
• Try these online flash cards to help you practice your Mr. Popper's Penguins vocabulary words.
• Questions
• How did Mr. Popper and Captain Cook get out of the Barber Shop?
• Add the alley to your map.
• Tell how Mr. Popper and Captain Cook got down the stairs.
• Why was it unwise for Mr. Popper to tie himself to Captain Cook?





Water Unit Study

 

1. First stop is Kid Zone where they have simple descriptions and scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the activity sheets!
2. Next, check out these Water Cycle Power Point Presentations and Games.
3. Then head over to Sarah's Sweeties Wordpress Blog to see what they did for their Water Unit Study.
4. Watch these Water Unit Study videos for the littles :)
5. Pick and choose from these Water Unit Study Videos.
6. Over at Not Just Cute they have a bunch of great ideas of how to incorporate your preschoolers into you study.
7. Water.org has leveled curriculum all about water!  A great resource!
8. This is a Unit Study download by Gwen.
9. Visit My Teacher's Page for some great Water Cycle resources including games, videos, webquests, and quizzes.
10. Cookies Domain also has some great resources including a handwriting printable of Amos 9:6.
11. Drinking Water explained by the US EPA for kids.
12. Drinking Water and Ground Water Kids page with lesson plans, activity pages, and games for grades K-12.
13. Lot's of great information here including vocabulary words and interactive games!
14. Living Montessori Now has a great Montessori inspired Cloud Unit Study.
15. Identify clouds with this cloud key.
16. Use the key to help you make the different types of clouds out of shaving cream.
17. Water Cycle Mini- Unit
18. Water Cycle Song (sung to the tune of Old McDonald)
19. Experiment: Weather in a Cup
20. Water Cycle Reader's Theatre Script
21. Cut and Paste the Water Cycle
22. How does popcorn pop Power Point Presentation (use this power point to talk about evaporation and steam.)
23. All About Clouds! Recording Sheet
24. Clouds, clouds, and more clouds Power Point Presentation.  (Very informative and GREAT pictures!)
25. The Amazing World of Clouds Craftivity
26. Cloud in a Jar Observation Book
27. Clouds and Storms Bible Lesson PPP
28. Cloud Types PPP
29. Use these cloud alphabet letters to practice spelling words, phonics or vocabulary words.  Use the numbers for making equations.
30. Use these cloud formation cards for math, review, and as calendar numbers.
31. Rainy Day Digraph Sort (for the littles :)
32. Get your head in the clouds activity
33. Visit Noah's Ark Homeschool Academy's Water Unit Study Pinterest Board

 

Life of Fred; Apples, Chapter 6

I am posting this without the pictures because we are not done with the lesson, but I know there a few of you that are following the lesson plans I have posted to go along with your Life of Fred studies.  I will update with pictures once we have completed the lesson.  Thanks for understanding.  (The lesson itself is complete, for you use.)

Stop Drop and Roll over to Noah's Ark Homeshcool Academy on Wordpress to download the FREE printable pack that goes along with this lesson.

• Set your clock to 8 o'clock
• Have your children draw stairs again only keep going to the 20th stair.

• Check out this lapbook on Archimedes.
• Complete the Archimedes notebooking pages.
• This is a links list to some awesome math lapbooks, so your child could study math just as Archimedes did.
• Read this brief bio of Archimedes.
• Here is more information about Archimedes.
• Science With Me has great information and a free handout on Archimedes.
• Check out Think Quest for more information about Archimedes.
• Read this for a more advanced description of Archimedes contributions to math.
• Preview and pick which videos to show to your children about Archimedes. 

• Math Only Math: What is Zero?
• The properties of zero.
• God's Math: When zero equals infinity.
• Have your child do this zero the hero craftivity.

• How much is a million

• Activity Book to go with How much is a million.
• Christian song lyrics talking about the weight of burdens being like a million pieces and needing to lay them down at the feet of the Lord.
• Watch these videos about how much a million is.
• Now might be a good time to start the Million Dollar Project!
• If I had a million dollars writing prompt.
• This is a whole lesson plan to accompany the book How Much is a Million?
• Read these Bible verses talking about the abundance of sand.
• Genesis 22:17
• Jeremiah 33:22
• Have your child complete the handwriting pages of these verses.
• Roman Numerals
• Here are some FREE Roman Numeral worksheets
• Write the Roman Numeral for one hundred
• Write the Roman Numeral for ten thousand
• Write the Roman Numeral for one million
• Write the Roman Numeral for your age
• Write the Roman Numeral for Fred's age
• If you want to take it a step further subtract the difference between your age and Fred's age in Roman Numerals.
• If you want to go even further try and figure out how to write a vigintillion in Roman Numerals.
• Find parts of 7 with raindrops

• Print out the raindrop manipulatives and work pages.
• Cut out the raindrops
• Have your child use the raindrop manipulatives to represent parts of seven.
• Have your child use the raindrop manipulatives to complete the workpages.
• Review the days of the week
• Look at previous Life of Fred posts for ideas on how to practice the days of the week.

• Size
• Art project:
• Have your child fold their blue paper into four equal sections
• Then have your child put no glue dots in the first section
• A little bit in the second section
• A medium amount in the third section
• And a BIG amount in the last
• Then hang them up so the glue dots drip down and dry to look like rain drops

A Journey to Becoming the Proverbs 31 Woman #1

So, to update you on how I am progressing in my journey to becoming the Proverbs 31 woman I will begin by saying that I am making small changes a few at a time.  My goal is mastery, and then I add a few more small changes.  The first logical step to becoming the Proverbs 31 woman is to get organized because it will make every other small change easier to fit in your schedule and to master.  I have made several big improvements to my organization.  I am implementing a Home Organizing Binder system (which you can find the PDF's FREE here!) and I have created several components to that system, but I still have more to do.  I am a list orientated person, so I created several documents that will help me organize my life with lists.  I am also a fan of block scheduling and that is the method I used for scheduling our homeschool day and also our daily and weekly chores.  I am working on an accomplishments document for my children to keep track of what they have actually completed or accomplished each day.  I have found several on the Internet for free, but they didn't quite fit what I needed.  The ones I found are not ink friendly and don't include Saturday and we have Saturday school so I would like to keep a record of what my children accomplished on Saturday as well.

How's it going so far?  Well, in light of the fact that I have a terrible sinus infection AGAIN, I would say that it is going really well.  I have been able to implement our school schedule and our daily and weekly chores schedule and keep up with it thus far.  Some of the smallest changes have made the biggest impact on my family.  Since I have been following a chore schedule for myself, my children have been more eager to do their chores.  When I start fluttering around doing my chores like a busy bee, they just naturally follow me.  When the house becomes filled with the scent of homemade cleaners and the sound of tunes being hummed by happy hearted busy bees it seems as if the sun is shining brighter.  It's almost as if I had opened the windows to let in the new Spring air.  It is fascinating to me that my children notice more of what I contribute when I am following a schedule and going about my work with a positive attitude and purposefully eager hands.

Okay, here I go back to the confessional.....In the past I did not make my bed everyday.  Sometimes perfectionism works in weird ways, and I have a hard time getting into my bed at night if it is made.  I don't want to mess it up.  Yes, I do know how ridiculous this is, but yet it is still hard for me. One of my immediate changes was to make the bed every morning before I leave my room.  Sometimes this is impossible because my husband is still sleeping, but I have managed to make the bed everyday.  I know this seems simple, but the effect of the change has been impressive.  My husband is thrilled!  I never knew how happy it would make him, to be able to count on the bed being made EVERYDAY.  Not only has this made my husband happy, it has also inspired my children to make their beds before they leave their rooms.  They are excited to show me how nice of a job they have done on their beds.  I know I am not alone in having your bedroom be the room that gets neglected.  I have always wanted the rest of my house to be tidy, but I haven't paid that kind of attention to my bedroom.  If I had known how much it meant to my husband to come home to a tidy bedroom and slip into a crisply made bed at night, I would have always done it.  I mean, it just really makes his day.  He is giddy like a kid in a candy store when he slides carefully between the cool crisp  sheets.  I will admit that I still prefer getting into a warm snuggly unmade bed that I am not bothered by the thought of messing up, but that feeling is so over shadowed by how much of a blessing it is to my husband.

Something else I have discovered is Overnight Crock pot Oatmeal.  This has been a life saver in having a hot breakfast ready for my family when I am still working on getting up a little earlier each morning. 

Ingredients:
2 cups steel cut oats
6 cups waters
4 apples cubed
1 cup brown sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp salt

Directions:
Put all ingredients in the crock pot
Set crock pot on low right before you go to bed
Serve oatmeal in the morning as is or add a splash of milk

It's so delicious and so easy.  Not to mention it keeps my kids from bugging me at 11:00am for lunch.

I have found thus far the journey to becoming the Proverbs 31 woman to be a blessing not only to my family, but also to me. I would have to say though that my most favorite blessing is that of sending my hubby off to work with lunch.  It gives me the opportunity to write him love notes and stick them in the bag.  I am not one for gushing over him and being all mushy out loud, but telling him how much he means to me in a note is how I can express myself.  For special days, I have always written him long letters telling him how much he means to me, but it's a fun treat to be able to jot down just a few things that I appreciate about him today, and give a few encouraging thoughts.  I am also guilty of decorating the bag ;)  I don't know how much he loves that part, but oh well it blesses me to think of his co-workers seeing him carry in a bag decorated by his wifey, hehehehe.  Anyhoo, that is how it has been going for me this week living like the Proverbs 31 woman. 

If you are on this journey with me please share the changes you are making in your life.  Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed it please consider sharing the love.


Here are a few resources I found this week that you may want to check out as well.  I especially love the last one!  Women Living Well does video posts following along with the verses from Proverbs 31.  She also has an e-book to download to help you in your journey.

• http://www.doorposts.com/details.aspx?id=24 (Paid)
• http://www.doorposts.com/details.aspx?id=23 (Paid)
• http://womenlivingwell.org/free-proverbs-31-ebook/ (FREE)

My New Year's Resolution; A journey to becoming the Proverbs 31 woman

This is my very first go around with making resolutions.  I have never felt driven to make unrealistic goals just to experience failure and let down.  Generally I know myself pretty well and know my strengths and weaknesses.  I am a perfectionist by nature and I take it pretty hard if I miss the mark.  I have not come across a worthy cause for setting these goals until late.  I recently turned the big 3 - 0 and it opened my eyes to how fast time is flying and that I need to make the most of my time here on Earth.  Not because I want to live it to it's fullest and fall over dead, but because I want to do as much of what Christ has called me to do while I am here.  2013 is the year that I am devoting to becoming a better soldier in the Christian army.  I have got the basics down.  I am a pretty good Christian woman, mother, teacher, and wife.  Although, after reading Proverbs 31 who could say they have hit the mark?  I will be honest, there is so much that I need to work on that it will take a lot of small changes and constant strides forward to even come close to this woman.  I think it is the perfect 1st Resolution for me and such a worthy use of my time and attention.  Prayer will be the foundation of this goal.  I will be leaning on Christ more than ever to not loose heart when I fall.  I am seeing many stumbling blocks in my future.  Because of my perfectionist nature, these times when I fall often, usually discourage me, and then I resolve that this just isn't my wheel house and move on to something I know I can be successful at.  I foresee my biggest struggle being rising early and preparing breakfast for my family.  All my life, even as a small child I have not been an early riser.  I actually become physically sick if I wake up before my body wants me to.  When I say physically sick I mean I throw up.  Anyone who knows me well would doubt whether it's even possible for me to wake up while it's still dark.  I will be praying each day and making strides to wake up a little earlier every day through the year.  If you want to follow me on this journey or have already been there I would love to hear your biggest challenges and what helped you overcome them.

I broke down Proverbs 31 by dividing it 3 verses at a time, then pulling out what actions I can take to become the Proverbs 31 woman.

• Verses 10-12

• A wife of noble character who can find?  She is worth far more than rubies.

• She is rare, not like every other Christian woman.  She does not compare herself to them and say," I'm doing pretty good."  She has her focus on Christ and what he wants from her. 
• I can do better about keeping my focus on Christ and exemplifying noble character so others can see Christ's work in my life in a way that leads them to the cross.
• Her worth to her family is more than rubies.  She doesn't cost anything to her family.  She adds value instead. 
• I see this in two ways.  She adds value with her capacity to love and care for her family, but also financially her works add value. 
• I am not currently bringing in any income so therefore I can work towards using my talents to add value in that way. 
• Over this past year I have started making my own cleaning products to save the family money.  I believe that saving money is as good as making it, and I can do more to save our family money this year.

• Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

• Her husband trusts her completely with every aspect of his life.  He has no worries for her, his children, or their home. 
• I see here that it's more than just trusting her to stay faithful.  He trusts that she can handle the challenges of daily life with "noble character" because she has proven her abilities over and over again.  She is reliable and strong.
• I am trustworthy, but where I see that I can improve is in the strength and handling all daily challenges with "noble character."
• My husband worries about how much I take on, and I think it's because he can see the stress and toll it takes on me. 
• More prayer and leaning more on Jesus is step number one.
• Step number two is managing daily tasks in a way that aren't overwhelming.  I need to keep a steady pace and prepare in advance for the things to come.
• Again, it talks about her husband lacks nothing in value. 
•  It's important to significantly use all my talents and strength to add value to my family.  There should be no question of what I have done all day.  Of course I home educate, and that is a job in and of itself, but is that really all I achieved?  I keep a fairly clean house for a homeschooler, but there is so much room for improvement here. 

• She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

• Wow, this one is easy to say, but wow!  If you think about what it actually means day in and day out it seems overwhelming at the least.
• First, you notice it says ALL the days of her life.  That means even when you are having hormonal issues, or a terrible no good very bad day.  
• Then, you look a little deeper and it doesn't say all the days of his life, it says all the days of your life.  Which means, even after your husband leaves this world you should be bringing good to his name.
• My husband would say that I am very respectful to him, but am I never the cause of a bad day for him?  Sure, I am.  There are times when I am not pleased and show it. 
• Another thing I noticed is that it didn't say to not bring harm as long as your husband doesn't bring harm.  We are not offered a loop hole here that says we aren't responsible for not bringing harm if our husband isn't fair to us or whatever other reason we think we may have.

• Verses 13-15

• She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.

• I think the key words here are SELECTS and EAGER. 
• She is eager to work and selective about the clothing for her family.
• For me that means being eager to launder and mend my families clothing and being selective about the value I am getting for my money. 
• I should do the laundry with eager hands?????? What?  Yes, I am going to work on having joy in my heart for doing the laundry because it is a noble and important job.  It is a way to show my love for my family. 
• No more laundry monster :)
• To be able to mend clothing I will need to gain some new skills. 
•  It's a noble cause for me to spend my time gaining skills in this area and not pay for mending or buying new clothing when something can be fixed.
•  I should look farther than Wal-Mart to clothe my family.  It's not the best quality for my money and the clothing we purchase from Wal-Mart doesn't generally get handed down. 
• I can shop the sales at stores like JC Penny's, TJ Max, and Marshall's.  
• I won't be able to do all my shopping at once, from one store, for cheap, but my family would be wearing more quality clothing that will last through more than one child.
• This doesn't mean I should blow my budget.  I need to do all this within our means and not on credit. 

• She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.

• She is willing to go far to bring back the best food for her family.  This brings up again how selective and careful she is in her choices for her family.
• For me this means several things.
• I need to take the plunge and go totally gluten free.  I am gluten intolerant and most likely my children are as well.
• I need to wake up early and drive to the best farmer's market and shop there as often as possible.
• I will start buying my eggs from a local farmer which will be healthier and also save us money.
• I will start planning ahead and looking for sales and coupons for healthier items instead of just buying what's on sale when it's convenient to go to the store.
• This also means using the food I bring home to make the best meals I can.  It means being thoughtful about the preparation of the meals I serve my family.

• She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.

• OUCH!  This one is a punch in the gut for me. 
• I confess that my children wake up ahead of me and prepare cold cereal for themselves.  I know this is horrible, but it's true.  What's even worse is usually the only hot breakfast's they get are either cooked by my husband or I am serving breakfast for dinner.
• This is hard for me to admit, but here goes......I don't wake up most mornings until 8:00 am and on a bad day that may extend to 8:30 am.  Since my youngest shares my struggle there aren't really any consequences for me other than I have less hours in a day to complete all my tasks.
• I feel that it would bless my family and be worth while for me to wake ahead of them and prepare breakfast and in general be prepared and ready for the day.  It would also bless my husband because I would not be as stressed from rushing around to get everything done.  Last, but not least it would bless me to be able to pace myself and give me more time to organize.  Another benefit would be that I might actually eat breakfast, which I don't do now.
• The way I do things now is bang it out.  I do everything with a burst of energy mid day.
• The challenge for me will be preparing myself physically to wake ahead of my family and eventually while it's still dark.
• I will need to go to bed earlier and make sure I am getting a good nights sleep.
• I will have to resolve things on my mind before bed so they don't keep me up all night.
• I will also prepare and plan out my day ahead of time so I don't dread waking in the morning.
• Additionally, she provides food for her family, I believe for the day.  To me, this means that she sends her husband off with meals for his day away from home.
• Another confession.....we can't afford for my husband to eat out during the day, and I don't fix lunches for him, so he goes all day without eating until dinner.  Now, of course he could have fixed his own lunch, but the point is it's my responsibility and I have dropped the ball.

• Verses 16-18

• She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

• This could be taken in the literal sense that she buys property wisely. But for me this means she is making wise investments.  She puts her money in places that will benefit her family.  This could even mean investing in a business you want to start, or your children's adult education fund.
• For me this mean considering a family business that my children will benefit from or making a plan to buy property that my children could build houses on or we could farm for personal or commercial use.
• It also means just to be thoughtful of how I spend the family money and consider every decision.
• Out of HER earnings she plants a vineyard.  Clearly she is earning her keep and contributing to the family financially. 
•  I can greatly improve in this area.  I don't contribute financially at all.  We are a one income family. 
•  I will be working all this year to find a way to use my talents to earn an income to help my family.

• She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.

• VIGOROUSLY is a strong word.  I wouldn't consider myself to be lazy by any means.  I stay busy all day, but I wouldn't say I set about my work vigorously.
• I can change this by changing the way I view my work.  I view what I do as, well it will still be here tomorrow.  The truth is that our work at home is a very important and noble job and we should view all our tasks as valuable. 
• If I contribute financially I just might prioritize my tasks in a way that would inspire vigorous work. 
• Her arms are strong for her tasks.
• Well, I am not that strong physically.  I'm kind of prissy that way. 
• I can get stronger by making it a point to work out. 
• Eventually, when we are home owners and not renters I can tend to a garden, or fix things around the house and get strong that way, but for now I should be preparing by purposefully making an effort to grow stronger physically.
• I can also grow stronger in mind, spirit, and heart. 
•  I can rely on Jesus to strengthen me in spirit.
•   I can get stronger in mind by seeing my self accomplishing more and more each day.
• I can get stronger in heart by not letting the pressure change my attitude and keep a joyful and eager work ethic.

• She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.

• She sees that what she is using her talents for is making a profit for her family and she knows that what she is doing is a noble task and valuable to her family so she works into the night to finish on time.
• I can be motivated to work hard to contribute financially to my family.
• I can do what it takes to meet my deadlines.

• Verses 19-21

• In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

• What stands out to me is that SHE holds the distaff, and with HER fingers she grasps the spindle.  She doesn't have someone else doing the work for her.  She is not going to pay someone else to do the work she can do herself.  She is caring for what needs to be done by seeing it through.  She is doing a humble job that could have been done by her servant girls.  She is willing to do the work with HER own hands.
• I can find more opportunities to save our family money by doing more myself with my own hands. 
• This may mean I learn how to sew and make clothes for my family.
• This may mean canning food.
• I can apply this by looking for more opportunities to avoid convenience items in order to save money.

• She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.

• Even though she is a busy woman she still sees the needs of others.  She has her life in BALANCE enough that she has made room to extend herself to the needy.
• I find myself with a heart to help the needy but not the means to help the poor.
• If I put all the other things into place and achieve the kind of BALANCE this woman has, I will be in a position to help others.
• Witnessing to the poor and needy is a very noble task.  It should be prioritized that we prepare ourselves to open our arms and be in a position to give outside of our own family.

• When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

• She is again prepared.  She is ORGANIZED, and planned for what was to come.
• I have no fear of snow for my family because we have a heater and are on leveled pay, but there is still much to be gained from this.
• I can shop in the spring for next winters clothing to get the best deals.  I can prepare and save money for that shopping trip. I can also apply this to other seasons.
• I can put much effort into being organized and prepared.  One way I am doing this is by putting together and USING a household management binder.
• I take notice to her household being clothed in scarlet.  Again, this brings attention to it being an important and noble task to clothe your family in quality attire.

• Verses 22-24

• She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

• I might take up sewing and literally make coverings for my bed, but in the mean time I will take special care to making sure mine and my families beds are made each day and have clean bedding.
• I can go the extra mile and shop for nicer sheets and bedding when it goes on sale.  The main idea is just to pay attention to the details and taking special care of my families bedding.
• She is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
•  Hum....this is contrary to what a lot of women do, especially women that stay home with their children.  We often let ourselves go a bit and don't pay much mind to what we wear.  I am guilty of this.  In general I eat the burnt toast.  I save the most healthy (expensive) food for my kids and I eat what is left over.  I make sure they have nice clothes, but I don't spend any money on myself.
• Ask yourself, how does it make my husband look, when I am not taken care of?
•  I am going to change this! I am a reflection on my husband and if I look like a frump then so does he.  This isn't a free licence to go on a shopping spree and pick up every cute shirt I see. 
• I will be careful about what I choose to buy, making sure that it fits well, looks nice, and is well made. 
• I can also go through my closet and weed out everything that doesn't fit right, or is outdated, or worn.
• Also, I can weed out items that might not be as modest as I'd like, and make sure when purchasing new clothing that they represent my husband well.
• I will make sure that I get ready for the day each day.  I want to be prepared for any visitors, or if my husband wants to invite someone over after work. 
• Most importantly my husband deserves to come home to me looking as nice as I can, in an act of love and respect.

• Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

• How can a man be respected outside the home if everyone can see he isn't respected inside the home?
• For me this means I need to give my husband the proper respect as the head of the family.
• It also means that I must run our household in a way that shows that I love and respect him. I need to dress in a way that will reflect well on him.  I need to keep house in a way that represents him in the best light.
• If I do all the things above this, he will have no worries at home and can focus his efforts on moving up in his career and gaining respect in the community by getting involved in community projects.

• She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.

• Again she is a busy bee working hard to help the family financially and making sure she is adding value and not costing.
• I can keep my eyes peeled open to opportunities to use my talents to make a profit.
• I can acquire new skills that are more profitable.
• I need to have more than one iron in the fire. 
• She markets herself to the merchants and makes good business relationships.  She is advertising her product. 
• I can work on gaining business relationships and come up with ideas for advertising. 

• Verses 25-27

• She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

• She is not fearful of what is to come because she is leaning on Christ and she has put in the work to be prepared.
• I can pray more and lean more on Christ.
• By being more organized and preparing ahead of time I will be ready for what's to come. 
• A woman with such noble character of course is strong and dignified; it is a side effect of all the hard work and faithfulness. 

• She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

• Wisdom only comes from a strong relationship with the Lord and a deep study of his word.
• I can devote more time to becoming a Christologist (a word I got from my pastor) and deeply studying all the words of truth in a Christ centered way.
• I can devote more time to prayer.
• I can choose my words more carefully and thoughtfully. 
• I can remember to lead my children in faithful instruction with not only the words I speak to them, but also being a living example.
• I can remember that God spoke the world into existence therefore the words I speak hold weight and I should be selective on which words I let leave my lips.

• She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat of the bread of idleness.

• She is managing her household and her hands are not idle.  She is working hard and staying busy with noble tasks.
• I can spend more time doing work with my hands and less time on facebook and watching TV.  Including the time I spend watching TV with my husband, which is most of my TV time.  I could learn to knit or something of the like to be busy and productive with my hands during those times.
• I can view the day in, and day out chores as the Lord's work and value it as such.  I can go about my work without whining or griping, and with a joyful heart instead.

• Verses 28-31

• Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

• "Many woman do noble things, but you surpass them all."

• I can ask myself, am I really surpassing them all?  Am I doing enough for my husband to really say that about me?
• I should be raising my children in a way that will prepare them to follow Christ's path for their lives and prepare them for raising their families.  I should be raising them in a way that won't leave them wrestling with their childhood as an adult.
• This is the reward for the hard work.  What greater reward than appreciation from the people that you love most in this world?
• Many husbands complain and gripe about their wives.  I should put myself in a situation that my husband has nothing to complain about.  

• Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

• I want to remember that the Lord is with me in everything I do, so I should show that respect for who God really is with my obedience.
• It's not harmful to be beautiful and charming, but that isn't the substance that sustains our relationships with our children, our husbands, or our Creator.
• I want my inner beauty to surpass my outer beauty.

• Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

• I don't want to expect a reward, or to be praised for just doing the norm.  I want to earn any reward I may get, but I don't want to work just for the reward.  I want to do all these thing unto the Lord.
• Give the Lord the glory and praise.

Thank you for sticking with me and reading through this.  I would love to hear your thoughts.  If you will be joining me on this journey please comment and let me know the changes you are making.  If you have been on this journey ahead of me, please comment with any words of wisdom you have.