Here's what helped me decide:
What I liked and didn't like about MFW -
Liked
1. Christ Centered
2. For Kindergarten a character trait is integrated into each lesson - I can easily add this into our lesson with LHFHG if I want, or I discovered that Bigger Hearts for His Glory covers Proverbs and Godly Character Lessons.
3. 1st Grade makes a Bible Notebook - Basically just a notebook of blank pages where your child draws a picture of part of the Bible lesson and then writes a sentence to go with it - another thing I can easily add into LHFHG.
4. Fun hands-on activities and projects
5. Scripture Memory
Didn't Like
1. Have to go to the Library or own encyclopedias for much of what is necessary to teach the program. For example in the Kindergarten lesson it says "Present information about insects, using the "Insect" article from an encyclopedia and/or other children's books about insects".
2. Lessons appear to take more prep time and reading of the TM beforehand.
3. Although kindergarten and first looked good, the subsequent levels didn't appeal to me as much.
4. Some of the science books used are secular and teach evolution and you have to edit it accordingly. I don't remember which grade level that was at though.
5. After reading many reviews MFW worked for some and not for others. I think I only found one review for HOD that said it didn't work for them and if I remember correctly it was because they chose the wrong level.
What I like about HOD (LHFHG) (Haven't found anything I don't like)
1. I love how it incorporates Christ into everything.
2. Every day is planned out in a very easy to follow manner and so well that you're ready to get started with little or no prep. You're likely to have any extras you'll need already on hand(crayons, glue, construction paper, etc.)
3. There are OPTIONAL literature supplements in the appendix so going to the Library is not required - we live in a rural area, so going to the Library isn't just a drive down the road for us. Sometimes we will be able to go and sometimes we won't.
4. Uses many Christian Resources - Chrisitan Liberty Press, A Reason for Handwriting, and others.
5. Has a devotional option.
6. Has Scripture Memory with optional CD that has the scripture in song.
7. Fun Hands-on Activities
8. I love to read and so do my daughters, so I am excited about the literature selections and the reading we will be doing together.
9. I can easily do LHFHG with both my kindergartener and 1st grader.
10. It is a curriculum that my kids can grow with. Yeah, no more trying to decide what to use!
11. It's obvious Carrie Austin truly has a heart for growing children to love and serve the Lord.
Reading the message boards on both MFW and HOD helped tremendously and I also found insight from www.homeschoolreviews.com
I have used LHFHG a little when my daughters were 3 and 4 1/2, but we got off track when my son started to crawl and my world turned upside down. Let me just say boys are so different than girls. We really enjoyed the days we were able to do school though and are looking forward to starting over with Little Hearts for His Glory beginning in the Fall.
Hope this helps others who might be struggling with their decision. Let me just say it feels so good to have finally decided.
Thanks Carrie for such a wonderful and well rounded program and for calling me personally to give me guidance on your program!
