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I am so excited. We are on week 2 - day 2 and loving this program. I was a little concerned with my youngest (dd9.5) being in RTR because of her age, but she is doing great. She can do everything in RTR except the Medieval Writing. We are having her use a younger writing program. I have also shortened her written narration. This is working wonderfully. The two older girls are encouraging the younger one in all that they are doing. It is so much fun doing the history projects together. I am not an art person, so I am encouraged that we are getting the projects done and they are looking fabulous. We love Peril and Peace - my only problem is I am staying up late to read this book. Beautiful Girlhood has been a BLESSING, especially for my oldest. Forbidden Gates has none of us wanting to put it down. Their notebooks are all fantastic. I can't say enough. Carrie, I want to thank you for your hard work. It is already paying off in my family.

Ooooh, I loved hearing this! We are loving RTR so much too!!! My ds cannot put down "Peril and Peace" either. I have been known to be off in a corner reading it too. We just finished "Forbidden Gates". I'll never look at that event in the Bible the same again. It became very real to both of us, and we have been amazed at the faith of Stephen and those early Christians all over again in a new more personal way as we feel like we "know" him now. We picked to have me read a portion of Storytime and him read the other portion of it. So, I'm silent reading the parts I miss. I can't miss it, but I'm doing 2 other HOD guides and don't have the time to read it all out loud. I too feel relieved at the creative side of learning being done so well independently by my ds. I actually enjoy creative type things on my own very much - but not the teaching of it so much (and I used to try to take it over which my ds didn't love either). So, the history projects and other creative outlets planned in RTR are wonderful for both my ds and me! I bet "Beautiful Girlhood" is neat to do. We are really enjoying "Boyhood and Beyond" too. In fact I just got another copy from HOD for my dh to have his own book to read. I think it's that important. Anyway, hooray for your 3 sweeties lovin' RTR!

In Christ,
Julie

Thank you for sharing April! My 3 oldest are also doing RtR and we are SO enjoying it! Carrie picks the BEST books! I just don't know what I am going to do when my children grow up and out of HOD! Who am I going to these books too! I too was a bit concerned for my 9 year-old, but with a little tweaking he really is doing more than what I was hoping he would do! They will rise to the challenge - right?!

April,

I am praising the Lord with you on your good start to RTR! My oldest son loved Peril and Peace very much last year, and Forbidden Gates truly changed the way I saw that time period in history. What an amazing time for the beginning of the early church!

Prior to writing our guides, I always struggled with getting any kind of project work done consistently. My oldest son happened to be kinesthetic, and so I was constantly looking for hands-on things he could truly do on his own that were meaningful! We've used so many of the projecty things out there. Most projects were expensive, time-consuming, and still often required my help. So, I can truly rejoice with you on the projects written in our guides. They were a labor of love to write!

Beautiful Girlhood is truly a wonderful book, so I'm thrilled it is suiting your daughter well. Boyhood and Beyond is much appreciated here as well.

Thanks for sharing! We pray you continue to enjoy your journey.

Blessings,
Carrie

I have a question. Are you reading the actual biblical account from the Bible (redundant I know) while reading those books?

Thanks,

Polly

Polly,

In CTC you read the actual Biblical accounts alongside the Old Testament and New Testament stories (along with reading all of Jonah, Ruth, Esther, Luke, John, and Acts and studying Genesis 1-11 in depth with the Bible study). Once we get to RTR we are actually past Christ being taken to heaven and are in the spread of the early church. So, in RTR we study all of Philippians, along with many other corresponding Bible passages, to address the suffering and persecution the Christians endured, along with the joy of living in Christ. When we get to the medieval time period and forward in RTR, we utilize parts of Peril and Peace and Monks and Mystics to continue our study of the spread of the Gospel and the growth of the early church. This focus continues on as we move into the Reformation era through Mystery of History.

Blessings,
Carrie

Thanks, Carrie! We have loved our years with HOD! (We are missing it this year but I'm taking a break from it to do my own thing so I can teach my kiddos together in the future. It's going well! At the same time, we miss HOD). I am excited to continue with HOD next year. I love all your hard work!

Polly