Homeschool Connections Magazine Spring 2024

HOMESCHOOL

CONNECTIONS

HOMESCHOOL CONNECTIONS

PUBLISHER/ CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Heidi Atwell

Homeschool Connections is published three times per year and distributed free of charge to homeschool families in Randolph County, NC and surrounding areas. Any reproduction in part or in whole of any part of this publication is prohibited without express written consent of the publisher.

Homeschool Connections 336-653-5974 www.cnchomeschool.com

Hello, homeschoolers!

Congratulations—you did it! You’ve made it to the end of another school year! As you plan your summer activities, you can find many ideas scattered throughout these pages. Whether it’s dance parties, theatre camp, 4-H programs, YMCA camp, or library adventures, there’s sure to be something your kids will love! Summer is also a time to regroup and plan for next year. If you’re struggling to find the right curriculum, see page 2 for advice from Jennifer Kearns, one of the wonderful homeschool specialists at Gullion’s Christian Supply and Homeschool Headquarters.

I can’t tell you how much I’ve enjoyed putting each issue of this magazine together. This issue has been especially meaningful to me. Our feature story this month (page 10) is an amazing testimony of God’s power and grace. I remember the shock when we received the text about Roxanna’s aneurysm, and how we waited anxiously for each followup report as she wavered in that delicate balance between life and death. She is a true living miracle and I am so blessed by her friendship and the opportunity to share her story. I pray that as you read it, it touches your heart and strengthens your faith in a mighty way.

I also have a proud mom moment. My daughter, Jessica, spent five months abroad with Youth With A Mission. Letting her go was probably one of the hardest things I've ever done, and we missed her terribly. But after seeing her grow and mature in her faith, I know it was God’s perfect plan for her. You can read all about her experience on page 4.

I hope you all have a great summer, and as always, please support our advertisers and tell them you saw them in Homeschool Connections!

Until next fall...

“Help! I’m Drowning in a Sea of Curriculum!” A Seasoned Specialist Gives Advice on Choosing Curriculum

By Jennifer Kearns

Choosing a curriculum can be an overwhelming task for a homeschooling family. Many parents search the internet for publishers only to find themselves overwhelmed and unsure if they are capable of instructing their own children. They seek help from friends and family who have homeschooled or are educators but end up more confused about which curriculum to start with!

There is a plethora of curricula available to homeschool students. Some are completely online while others are workbook based. There are a few with video instruction and those where the parent is the sole teacher. So where does a parent start?

First, do not compare your child or school to anyone else. Your best friend who has homeschooled twenty years and seems to have it all together may have the perfect curriculum choice that works for her, but it may not be right for your family. A fellow veteran homeschool

mom, Amy McKenzie once said,

“If anyone tells you that you have to use a specific curriculum, co-op or homeschool approach – RUN! Run from their advice and speak with someone else who will encourage you to find what works for you and your family.”

There is no “right” way to homeschool. It is about what works best for you, the teacher, and your child. No one has it all together, so be confident in what curriculum you choose!

Next, consider your child’s strengths and weaknesses. A child that can read a book in two days may enjoy a literature-based or reading intensive program. If they struggle with reading, choosing a literature-based program will only intensify the frustration for both of you.

An advanced math student may do well with traditional or even fast paced programs. However, for a student that struggles in mathematics, a hands-on or masterybased curriculum can help build confidence without overwhelming them as they learn at their pace.

Another step in choosing curriculum is to figure out which homeschool approach interests you. A few students may learn well with the traditional textbook approach. If you have more than one child and are interested in family learning, integrated studies or unit studies are a great place to start. If you are just getting started and have pulled your student from a traditional school setting, you might consider a relaxed approach or even unschooling for the first year.

I also recommend thoroughly reviewing the curriculum you may be interested in using. Compare that curriculum to other publishers. Take the time to find a local bookstore, like Gullion’s Christian Supply and Homeschool

Headquarters, to sit down and physically look at the program. It is difficult to compare curricula with just a small online sample. Ask these four guiding questions when reviewing a curriculum:

• What approach does the program use?

• What learning style works best with the curriculum?

• How do you use the program?

• Is the curriculum fast paced or more relaxed?

Having a full understanding will give you confidence in your decision and make the year a little less daunting.

Another consideration is your budget. How much do you have to spend on curriculum? Purchasing curriculum secondhand is a great choice for those on a budget. Ensure that you take advantage of your local library’s free resources. You may take a little out of each paycheck or set aside part of your yearly tax return. Either way, knowing what you can spend will help you get the most for your money.

Finally, have fun learning together! Learning does not have to happen solely from a textbook. Teaching from everyday opportunities gives our children the knowledge of how everything works. Utilize the curriculum you have chosen but have fun doing it! Choosing science or history activity books instead of a full curriculum, especially in the elementary years, brings a bit of fun to the school day. Our sons remember more of the activities that we did together with our curriculum than the words on the page.

Remember that you are a teacher! You have taught your children everything from how to use a fork and spoon to how to tie their shoes. Many parents of school aged children already work with their children at home helping them complete homework assignments. Do not let anyone tell you that you are not qualified. You know your children better than anyone else. God has given these children to you, and you can choose the right curriculum to help your child succeed! n

Jennifer Kearns has worked at Gullion's Christian Supply and Homechool Headquarters for 6 years counseling homeschool families, helping them choose curricula and organizing transcript workshops in the local community. She homeschooled her two sons, Joseph and Joshua, for 15 years, from prek to graduation. They are now both college students at Liberty University. Joseph is pursuing his Masters of Divinity in Apologetics and Joshua will finish with his Bachelor’s in Commercial Music in May. She and her husband Michael have been married for 25 years in September. Michael has served as a senior pastor of a church in Lexington for 12 years.

FROM THE CLASSROOM TO THE MISSION FIELD... My YWAM Experience

By Jessica Atwell

Idid what I was supposed to. Just like my older brother, cousins, and peers, I filled out college applications, wrote essays, and interviewed. I got accepted into the school I had my heart set on attending and had even made friends on scholarship day. However, after an encounter with God that flipped my world upside down, I realized I couldn’t go. Well... not immediately. So, I turned down the schools I had been accepted to and began filling out a very different application. Seven months later found me sitting on an airplane next to a stranger on my way to Ålesund, Norway.

Youth With A Mission, or YWAM, is a global organization that brings together Christians from different cultures, countries, age groups, and church backgrounds to unite them in the desire to know God and make Him known. YWAM seeks to equip

young people specifically for missions, training them and sending them out to every corner of the earth. It was started in the 1960s by a man named Lauren Cunningham and since then has grown to be in over 180 countries. One program that YWAM offers is a Discipleship Training School, or DTS. Different DTSs can last for different amounts of time, but they all include a lecture phase and an outreach phase.

In September of 2023, I along with 33 other young people from all over the world arrived in Ålesund, Norway not knowing how much we would grow, change, and learn during this oncein-a-lifetime opportunity. Our school lasted five months in total, with the first three being our lecture phase and then splitting up to go to different locations for our two months of outreach. The YWAM bubble is affectionately known as the “greenhouse” because while living on base you are fully immersed in Jesus culture. Our weekly schedule included waking up early for quiet

time with Jesus every day, intercession three times a week, worship twice a week (not counting church services on Sundays), and devotionals on Friday. Monday through Thursday we would attend lectures in the morning. Each week we were taught something new by lecturers who flew in from all around the world. We were taught on subjects such as The Holy Spirit and Hearing God’s voice, Lordship, Identity, Freedom in Christ, and Revival in the Bible, among many other topics. Twice a week my base also had something called track time. At the base I attended you could either be on an outdoor track or a creative track (barista, fine art, music, writing, and photography) The outdoor track taught about who God is as a creator while being in his creation hiking, fishing, camping, and swimming, among other things. Creatives like myself also learned about God as a creator but from the perspective of how being creative is another way of bearing his image. We learned how to co-create with God and other creatives on our projects. However, the most important thing that I experienced during this time was community. We were all away from home, most of us in a country where we didn’t speak the language, away from home during holidays, birthdays,

Ålesund, Norway—my home away from home.

and personal hardships. We were all growing so much personally that we learned how to lean on each other. For some of us who were younger (myself included) this was when we stepped out of childhood and into adulthood. We learned how to be individuals and supported each other with godly accountability. I met people my age with wisdom beyond their years, a voice of truth that could captivate you, spiritual giftings, and an inspiring level of Biblical knowledge. I found a family there and finally started to understand what it means to live in fellowship.

But we couldn’t stay in that moment. We had spent three months doing the first part of our goal: getting to know God, but now it was time to do the second: make Him known. Each group that comes in is sent to different locations for outreach, and during my DTS the locations were the UK, Europe+, Australia, and Mexico. Our group of 34 students split, and I, along with 11 others, was sent to the UK, specifically Scotland and England. Each outreach looks different as each one is in a different culture with different people, but my outreach was in Western culture and first-world countries. Each location within the UK had different needs that we met doing both creative and mercy ministries. We did everything from working with youth

groups, refugees, and the homeless, worshiping in the park with recovering addicts, evangelizing, singing and dancing in the streets, praying for healing, sharing the gospel in areas of highly concentrated witchcraft and paganism, and just sharing the hope and love of Jesus with the people He died for. We learned how to step out of our comfort zones, share the gospel and our testimonies, and speak life into not just the people we were trying to reach, but our team too. While we were gone we still kept up with worship and intercession and did our best to support each other. I’m not going to lie and say everything went perfectly, that we all got along all the time, or that there weren’t hard times, but it WAS

all worth it. Because He is worth it, the tears, the laughter, the moments I just wanted to be home, and the moments I never wanted to leave behind.

My life has looked very different from those I graduated with last year and that’s ok. I’m not the one writing the story of my life anymore and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me next! If you are reading this and are starting to think about what you want to do after college, take a breath. It’s okay. Whether you are going to college, taking a gap year, going into missions, or entering the workforce, God’s got you and He will do great things with your life if you let Him. God bless you! n

I had the opportunity to make friends from all over the world.

My outreach team—we spent 2 months doing ministry together in the United Kingdom.

Journey of Miracles

By Roxanna Bryant

Amiracle is defined as a “surprising and welcome event that is not explainable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” A shorter definition of miracle is an “extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs.” A dear friend once said “everyone wants a miracle, but no one wants to be the miracle.” I can say “amen amen amen” and also, I can say “Amen” to a journey of miracles. Would I ever choose my journey of miracles? Absolutely not! Not in a million years. But would I choose to embrace my journey and trust that my Heavenly Father is the perfect Heavenly Father, and whatever He allows into my life is perfect and He will use it for His glory? Absolutely.

Romans 8:28 tells us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose.”

My journey of miracles has occurred over the last year and a half. In the fall of 2022, I was trying to take care of and honor my 97-year-old father. I also have 15-year-old twin daughters, a 29-year-old son and a 26-year-old son. To say I was part of a submarine sandwich generation would have been an understatement.

I have always believed that taking care of our elderly parents and showing the Lord honor is especially important. My mother died almost 30 years ago from ovarian cancer that went to her brain. When she was diagnosed, the doctors projected that she had less than six months to live and told her to go home and get her affairs in order. I have never given up easily or taken the words “nothing else can be done” as the only option. With much prayer and research to find the best possible treatments, she lived for 3½ years and become a grandmother, which was one of her biggest dreams. I have peace that I loved her well, and I did what I could with the Lord’s guidance to honor her and to help her journey. She was my best friend; I still miss her every day and I look forward to seeing her again in heaven!

In the Fall of 2022, Pops developed pneumonia and needed to be hospitalized. He had had pneumonia several times in the past and usually would be hospitalized, take IV antibiotics, get treated with breathing treatments and be released back home with no issues. This time when he was admitted to a local hos-

pital, the administration did not want to treat him due to his advanced age and existing health issues. Citing the “Palliative Care Act,” they just wanted to make him comfortable until he passed. Even though he was elderly, he still enjoyed life and his quality of life was good. I am known for not backing down from a fight and fought to get him released. I proceeded to tell the hospital administration that the Lord would determine my dad’s last day, not them. My opinion was not received well to say the least. My husband once told a friend there was not any condition his wife didn’t think could be healed and no one she would not fight! How true his words are!

During the time Pops was hospitalized, my pain was 10 out of 10. Walking was difficult and I couldn’t even walk from the hospital parking lot to his ICU room. I had been hit by a drunk driver in 2009 and have had severe neck and cervical issues ever since.

I just assumed that I had ruptured more discs in my back, and I would take care of myself after my father passed. The pain continued to worsen, and we suspected the issue was more than ruptured discs. One of Pop’s friends had battled and survived a rare form of bone cancer 30 years ago. He had a vast network of connections in the cancer world, and his life’s purpose is to help others. He offered to set up diagnostic appointments for me at a Mayo Clinic for testing.

I had to take care of my father first and knew that his passing was near. I advised the Mayo Clinic I would need to take care of my father and plan his funeral before I could come for my own testing. Pops passed in mid-January 2023, and I went for testing at Mayo Clinic the week of March 13th. Fortunately, a dear friend was able to go with me while I had over 30 tests that week. I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer that had spread

My father, “Pops,” as he was fondly known, was a resident at a local assisted living program. My daughters and I tried to take him out as much as possible and spend as much time as possible with him. Pops loved his grandchildren immensely!

to the bones and other areas. I had over 10 broken ribs and several fractured vertebrae, which explained the intense pain I had been in and my inability to walk. This is not a diagnosis anyone wants to receive, and it certainly is one that will test your faith. The doctor’s notes in my medical record stated, “patient was surprised at her diagnosis of stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, but she was remarkably poised” and “patient is a strong Christian with a strong Christian faith.”

I have studied natural medicine and the human body for the last 30 years since my mom was diagnosed, and I truly believe that physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health are all interconnected and interrelated. Before my own diagnosis, I was working with a lady who repeatedly told me I had to believe that my Heavenly Father was my perfect Heavenly Father, and whatever He allowed into my life was perfect and He would use it all for His glory. I adamantly believe we need to put a guard on what we put into our mind. Only we have control of what or who we choose to listen to, and we should “take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”

I came home from the Mayo Clinic, started researching stage 4 cancer and quickly discovered that my medical prognosis was very poor. I have always been an intense researcher, looking for leading edge treatments and natural medicine. The only conventional treatment I was willing to take at the time and now is a hormone blocker, because my cancer was determined to be hormone-fed.

On March 27th, 2023, less than two weeks after my diagnosis, I suffered a major brain aneurysm. The last thing I remember is having the worst headache of my life. I do not remember the

next six weeks. During that time, my family came home and found me unconscious. I was taken to our local hospital by ambulance, and then airlifted to Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem. The neurosurgeon on call said my aneurysm was the largest she had ever seen and that my blood pressure was so sporadic she could not do surgery. She advised my family that I only had a 5% chance to survive and that they should let me die, especially with my stage 4 cancer diagnosis.

My family interceded and fought for me over the next few hours, days, weeks and months. My youngest son Tucker flew in from San Diego, and my husband and my sons took turns staying with me 24 hours a day in neurological ICU to make sure that I had every chance possible to live. I had three brain surgeries: to drill holes in my skull to release pressure, to repair the aneurysm, and to put in a shunt to allow my brain to drain correctly. The neurosurgeon said it took 22 coils to close the major artery and it was a miracle she was able to close it. I also had emergency abdominal surgery and suffered seizures and coded (died) twice and was brought back to life. I was unconscious for several days and no one knew my condition or the amount of brain damage that I had more than likely suffered. I had organ failure, heart damage, kidney failure and developed an extremely serious lung infection from being on the ventilator for a month. I was in neurological ICU for 30 days before finally being able to go to a stepdown room. I could not walk or lift my arms high enough to feed myself, and I had to relearn to swallow.

During all these episodes, the doctors continued to advise my family to let me go. After one of those conversations, my oldest son Connor said to his dad, “we need to get

Our amazing friends and our daughters’ teachers and coaches invested heavily in their lives to make sure they could stay in school and continue to play sports. My 15-year-old twin daughters chose to stay in school and to complete their studies. How they both managed to make 4.0’s with everything we went through and not knowing if I was going to live or die is another miracle from the Lord’s hands.

that handicap bathroom fixed for mom.” His father looked at him like he had two heads and said “Connor, did you not hear what the doctor said? Your mom is probably gonna pass.” Connor said “oh no she’s not going to die tonight—it’s mom.” And he was right! Nothing like faith!

My husband and children kept advising the doctors to do the next step in the process, because “God will take her when he wants her.” There were so many prayer warriors at the hospital and all over the world. Churches joined in praying for me and in fact, one time the doctors asked my family how many people did we know? They said they had never seen so many people in a hospital praying for one person before in their life. So many people came, our friends and prayer warriors and strangers continued to lift me up in prayer. I truly believe prayer changed everything. Right after the aneurysm, when my blood pressure was so high and so erratic, my family and friends sent out a prayer request and my husband watched my blood pressure monitor drop to 140 and stay parked there.

The nurses and staff started seeing God’s miracles manifested in my life. The nurses started asking to have my

case and to stay extra shifts. My husband testified in Sunday school about the miracles that he saw. He saw my organs shut down and then reboot like a computer. The doctors also said my heart was in better shape after two heart attacks than when I first came into the hospital.

I was in step-down ICU when I was coming off several strong medications and pain relievers including Fentanyl. One night, my son Connor was staying with me. He said I was an absolute pistol and I said I was in Fort Knox and being held against my will. Mind you I was not able to walk or barely move. I decided I wanted biscuits and gravy. I had just coded a few days before during a swallowing test, so Connor was not about to give me biscuits and gravy. He said that was the angriest I had ever been at him in my life. He finally went to sleep about 5:00 a.m. after wrestling with me for hours. He woke up an hour later to find me on the phone. He thought to himself “who in the world is she talking to?” About that time, he heard “911 operator may I help you?” Much to my mortification, I had called 911 and proceeded to tell them that I was in Fort Knox being held against my will and being starved and they would not

give me biscuits and gravy. I asked my son; “Why did you not take the phone away from me?” He said; “Well, you had already called them, so I just wanted to see how it was going to play out.” I asked him what happened. He said; “Well, you got biscuits and gravy!” Go figure.

Another night, my husband had the misfortune of staying with me in neurological stepdown ICU. In my defense, I was told I was coming off of some major drugs and painkillers. I told my husband the same thing, that I wanted out of Fort Knox and I was being held against my will and that I could walk. He proceeded to tell me I had two walls of IV’s in my body and I wasn’t going anywhere. He told me “there is no way you can walk and leave this hospital.” He wrestled with me as well until early morning, and then went to sleep in exhaustion. He said he woke up to me smirking, covered in blood. I had pulled every IV out of my body, and I told him I was ready to go home and I didn’t have any IV’s. As I was having all the IV’s put back in with much pain, he said I looked at him and said; “I didn’t think this through very well, did I?” With much irritation he retorted; “Do you

think? No, you did not think this through very well!!” It is a good thing my family loves me so much and is so patient with me.

I was transferred to a rehabilitation unit for six weeks. My husband’s description of me was: “You were taken to the rehab unit on a stretcher. You had to learn to swallow again, you couldn’t walk, you couldn’t get your arms to your mouth, you were blind in your left eye and couldn’t see out of your right eye.”

When the aneurysm ruptured, my eyes filled with blood and affected my vision immensely. The blood drained out of my right eye, but not out of my left eye. I had to have surgery to remove the blood from my left eye, and both eyes are still healing. I really miss my vision and grieve because of the vision impairment I still experience. I remember my first memory in six weeks was waking up in the rehab unit and not knowing where I was. All I could see were legs walking around with no bodies and no heads or faces. I did not want to tell anyone that because I didn’t know where I was, but I knew I didn’t want to be transported to a mental facility. I could

My husband and I both recently turned 60. One of my twins asked if they could give us a birthday party and I said only if it can be a “Reverse Party” and we can thank everyone that helped us and bless them. She agreed. Over 150 people came to celebrate the Lord and life. I don’t know if there has ever been a happier human on the earth than me to turn 60. I want my children and people to remember me in my ‘not so little black dress’ living, laughing, loving, giving, and dancing!

I love the story of the starfish and the little boy that was frantically throwing the starfish back into the ocean that had washed up on the beach back into the water. An old man came up and asked him why he was throwing the starfish back when there were so many on the beach. The little boy picked up one and gently threw it back into the ocean he said; “It made a difference to that one.” We can make a difference. My life and my story are a testimony of miracles that my Heavenly Father has allowed into my life. Being refined is never easy, but the Lord will take our mess and make it our message and He will take our test and make it our testimony.

only recognize people by their voices.

I remember trying to eat at the rehab center. What a memory that is! I couldn’t see the food, and my lack of motor skills would rival a toddler’s abilities! I would chase the food I couldn’t see around on my plate with a fork or spoon. If I could ever capture a morsel, the journey to my mouth would be even more difficult. I tended to wear more than I ate. By the time I found a way to my mouth, I did not enjoy the food, so I decided that eating was just too much trouble. I proceeded to lose over 50 lbs. over the next few weeks. I am a true southern girl, and I don’t think I would have made it if it wasn’t for sweet tea. I did find out that they had to put a Pic line in for the lung infection and the IV antibiotics I had to have administered 3 times a day. The antibiotics made all food taste horrible, and my family didn’t bother to tell me they thought my lung infection would kill me before the aneurysm or the cancer did.

I tended to battle the rehab center for the next few weeks over my choices of nourishment. I also decided that I could walk, even though I physically could not and had been told so numerous times. I waited until the opportune time when no one was around to prove to myself that I could

walk. I ended up face planting on the floor, giving myself a concussion, and breaking my glasses.The eye that I could barely see out of swelled shut, and embarrassingly, I had to call for help to get up off the floor. That was a disastrous attempt to prove I could walk. I had to learn to swallow again, walk again, and feed myself again over the next few months. I went from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane to unassisted walking. I did weeble wobble quite a bit, but I was determined not to be handicapped.

I am so grateful for health insurance and friends. Our church built us a handicap ramp at our home, and friends, family, churches and strangers gave us monetary gifts and food. We had so much help from people that were the hands and feet of Jesus. We never could have survived without our Christian community. I am listed as a miracle at numerous hospitals and doctors’ offices. In fact, my neurosurgeon said I didn’t have to come back and see her for a year because I had healed so well from the aneurysm, and she asked if she could share my story with her church. She said, “the Lord has given you so many miracles and so many people don’t believe God is still a God of miracles. I want others to know the truth!”

I don’t know what my future holds. I don’t want to let cancer or sickness to define me; it’s part of my story and who I am but it does not define me. I have only continued to take the hormone blocker as far as conventional cancer treatment goes. I have developed my own protocol and have been a “respectful rebel” with my cancer doctors. I have told them that I appreciate their knowledge and the treatment and the medicines that they recommend, and I am not saying “no not ever.” I am just saying “not now.” I have been through so much and my body has been through so much. I believe in strengthening the body to fight disease and illness. God has made our bodies amazing machines. I have ordered my own DNA test and genetics and epigenetics tests to figure out how to help my body. I believe this technology is a promising future of healing many diseases.

I am currently working on a cancer coach certification program. I believe cancer treatment or any treatment we choose is like homeschooling. I always said that I felt it is the parents’ choice to educate their children the way they are led to and it is a decision between them and the Lord. I am so grateful that we have choices. I believe the same with the cancer treatment that I’m going through. I love to help people and invest in

people, if they want my help. My dream has always been to start a foundation to help as many people as possible anonymously.

I must say that it is hard to walk with faith and trust into an unknown future. And it’s like I told my cancer doctor months ago. I am okay if the Lord chooses to heal me in heaven. I am not afraid to die. But I am afraid of not living. I want to make everyday count because every day is a gift. I can see the Lord’s hand and the Lord’s plan woven throughout my life as a testimony to His plan and His glory. I was able to see my twins turn 16 and I was given the gift of enjoying another

I will continue to live my life. It is a hard journey to walk, but I try my best to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and to focus on gratitude. I grieve sometimes for my vison impairment and everything I have lost and my unknown future, but I do not allow

“A dear friend was with my oldest son and he told her that even if the Lord chose to heal me in heaven and take me home, he would still say God is a good God. That’s what I want my children to know.”

Thanksgiving and Christmas. I got to watch my daughter play basketball and soccer, and visit the beach, my favorite place on earth!

I don’t know how many days or years the Lord will allow me on this side of heaven. I’ve always taught my children that I did the best I could at the time with what I had and what I knew. That’s the way

myself to create a pity party. I will set my timer and grieve when I am sad, but then quickly switch to gratitude and focus on future goals.

I am so grateful for my family and my children! They love me so much and took care of me, protected me and interceded for me for months. My husband is my hero, and my children are my dream

My memorial stones to remind myself to walk in faith and trust and to practice gratitude and it's all about Jesus. We are all walking the story that God has already written for us.

come true. All I ever wanted to do was be a mom, and Connor, Tucker, Chloe, and Madison have made that dream come true beyond my wildest imagination.

I hope to write a book one day. I’m praying about how to tell my story. My story is big and it is hard but it shows and represents what a big God our God is and how He is the same God since the beginning of creation. My biggest prayer is that my story will point to the Lord and give Him honor and glory and show that He truly was, is and always will be a God of miracles!

If anyone would like to reach me, they can reach me at everyonewantsamiracle@ gmail.com. I have been asked to speak a few times and will continue to honor and obey the Lord and share His story as long as I can. Remember you are walking the story God has already written for you. You are “fearfully and wonderfully made,” and loved beyond measure! n

GIVING STRATEGIES

By Dwain Gullion, Financal Advisor

There are many strategies to consider when thinking about giving and generosity. How can we give and invest in others from our time and other resources, while also being strategic about giving financial resources? When we set out to encourage someone with a visit or a gift, many times, we become the one that is encouraged or blessed. Opening our homes to host an international student or getting involved in foster care are also ways to share our valuable resources. These are great opportunities to be generous, and we should view generosity and giving from a holistic perspective. Randy Alcorn’s little book “The Treasure Principle” provides some sound biblical principles to consider and to follow.

One of the most basic forms of generosity is the act of giving money directly to someone. A strategic way to do this is by taking advantage of the 2024 annual gift tax exclusion amount of $18,000. In 2001, the limit was $10,000 per year and the limit has gradually increased over the years. The annual gift exclusion amount may also be used to fund a 529 plan for education purposes. Keep in mind, it is now possible to Super Fund a 529 plan with a single gift up to $90,000 per child that will be accounted for over 5 years using IRS Tax Form 709.

When it comes to charitable donations, it is important to consider giving appreciated assets. The contribution of appreciated stocks or other securities allows you to avoid capital gains taxes while also receiving a charitable deduction for the fair market value of the asset. If you plan to make cash donations, you may want to consider “bunching” contributions to maximize the tax benefits of itemizing deductions in

specific years. Also, many companies will match the charitable contributions of their employees. So be sure to take advantage of any corporate matching gift programs that will effectively double your donation amount.

Donor-Advised Funds (DAFs) are also available as a creative way to give. Establishing a Donor-Advised Fund allows you to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax deduction, and then recommend grants from the fund to charities over time. The National Christian Foundation (NCF) serves as a pivotal organization dedicated to facilitating charitable giving within the Christian community. By offering innovative tools such as donoradvised funds, NCF empowers donors to make a lasting impact on causes aligned with their Christian values.

If you're over 70½ and have an IRA, consider making a Qualified Charitable Distribution directly from your IRA to a qualified charity. This can satisfy your Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) while excluding the distribution from your taxable income. If you are in the estate planning stage, you may also consider incorporating charitable bequests into your estate plan. This allows you to support your favorite causes while potentially reducing estate taxes. Another consideration would be to establish a Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT). A CRT allows you to donate assets to the trust, receive an income stream, and then donate the remaining assets to charity upon your passing. This strategy provides both a charitable deduction and income during your lifetime.

Generous Giving is an additional organization to consider. They provide an in person small group experience called a Journey of Generosity (JOG). One more great book to consider

reading would be “Your Money Counts” by Howard Dayton. This book provides a great overview of giving, along with solid principles on saving, spending, investing, getting out of debt, facing a financial crisis, and finishing well.

Always consult with a tax professional or financial advisor to ensure that any of these strategies align with your financial goals and comply with current tax laws. Tax regulations may change, so staying informed is crucial for effective charitable giving and tax planning. n

Dwain Gullion offers investment advisory services through Securities America Advisors, Inc. (SAA). Midtown Financial Advisors and Securities America are unaffiliated. SAI and SAA are separately owned and other entities and/or marketing names, products or services referenced here are independent of SAI and SAA

Investments in 529 plans involve risks to principal and may involve additional fees such as enrollment charges and annual maintenance fees. 529 plans offer no guarantees. Depending on your state of residence and the state of residence of the beneficiary, the plan may or may not be eligible for state tax benefits. Non-qualifying distribution earnings are taxable and subject to a 10% tax penalty.

Teaching Kids the Joy of Giving

As parents and caregivers, we strive to instill values of kindness, empathy, and generosity in our children. One of the most powerful ways to nurture these qualities is by teaching kids the joy of giving. Whether through acts of kindness, volunteering, or charitable donations, fostering a spirit of generosity from a young age can have a profound impact on children’s development and their outlook on the world. Here are some strategies for teaching kids to be givers:

1

Lead by Example: Children learn by observing the behavior of adults around them. Demonstrating acts of kindness, generosity, and compassion in your own life sets a powerful example for your children to emulate. Whether it’s helping a neighbor in need, donating to a charitable cause, or volunteering your time, let your children witness firsthand the positive impact of giving back to others.

2

Start Small: Teaching kids to be givers doesn’t have to involve grand gestures or significant financial contributions. Encourage them to perform small acts of kindness in their everyday lives, such as holding the door for someone, sharing toys with a friend, or writing a thank-you note to a teacher or caregiver. These simple acts of kindness can have a ripple effect, spreading positivity and goodwill to those around them.

3

Celebrate Generosity: Recognize and celebrate acts of kindness and generosity in your children. Praise them for their thoughtfulness and empathy, and reinforce the positive

impact of their actions on others. Create opportunities for children to share their experiences and reflect on how giving has enriched their lives and the lives of those around them.

4Emphasize Gratitude: Teach children to appreciate what they have and to express gratitude for the blessings in their lives. Encourage them to reflect on the ways in which they have been supported and uplifted by others, and to express their thanks through words, gestures, or acts of kindness. Cultivating a mindset of gratitude helps children recognize the interconnectedness of humanity and the importance of giving back to others.

5Make Giving a Habit: Encourage children to incorporate acts of giving into their daily routines and habits. Whether it’s setting aside a portion of their allowance for charitable donations, participating in a monthly volunteer activity, or performing random acts of kindness for strangers, help children establish a lifelong habit of giving that becomes ingrained in their values and identity.

The Snowden Plantation Murders

By Darlene Hildreth

The McKays descended from a Civil War veteran named Robert Bogardus Snowden. He was a successful businessman in Memphis, TN. Robert married a girl named Anne Brinkley and the couple moved into a beautiful, southern mansion that he named Annesdale, after his wife.

One of Robert and Anne’s five children was named Robert Bogardus Jr. II. His nickname was “Bob.” Born in 1896, Bob grew up at Annesdale in Memphis and studied agriculture. While in college, he met a pretty Knoxville girl named Grace Mountcastle. The two were planning their wedding when World War I broke out. Grace’s parents asked them to postpone the marriage until the war ended. Bob enlisted as a pilot while Grace trained and volunteered as a nurse.

Bob and Grace made it through the war and

were married as soon as possible afterward. In 1919, they started The Horseshoe Cotton Plantation at Horseshoe Lake in Arkansas. The couple built a modest farmhouse with one bathroom, one fireplace, and a screened-in porch that overlooked the lake.

In 1949, when business was booming, the Snowdens transformed their house into a 6,000-square-foot, three-story mansion with a winding staircase and crystal chandeliers. The Snowdens had one son and three daughters. All four Snowden children cherished the wonderful memories from the Snowden House on the lake.

Their oldest daughter, Sally, went on to marry David McKay and have three daughters of her own. But when her father passed away in 1982, she was divorced and her children were grown. So Sally moved home to Horseshoe Lake to assist her aging mother.

When her mother died, the siblings agreed that Sally should oversee the family businesses, including renting out thirty lake-front cabins along Horseshoe Lake.

Sally chose to live in a nearby house and lease out the big Snowden house to a couple who turned it into a bed-andbreakfast. She was a fun, generous, and well-loved member of the Horseshoe Lake community— affectionately called Aunt Sally.

Joseph Lee Baker was Sally’s nephew. He lived on Horseshoe Lake with his wife, Carol, and their three boys. Lee was an English teacher at Hughes High School and a well-known Delta blues musician. He was a popular fixture on the Memphis music scene. Lee had his own style and his own band called Lee Baker and the Agitators.

On Aug. 12, 1996, a fire burned down the Baker home while the family was

out. Investigators believed the fire was intentionally set to cover up a robbery. Lee had money hidden in the house for recording his band’s new record. He also had an expensive music memorabilia collection, including an irreplaceable steel guitar given to him by the legendary Furry Lewis, an infamous pioneer blues musician.

After the fire, the Baker family moved into a cabin about 100 yards from Lee’s Aunt Sally. One morning, about a month after the house fire, Lee went to help his aunt with some chores. While they were inside talking, someone came into her home and set it on fire. The bodies of 75-year-old Sally McKay and 53-year-old Lee Baker were found lying near each other. They had been shot before the fire was set. A local found Sally’s red Toyota Camry, wrecked and turned over, down the road from her house.

Everyone was shocked on Nov. 5, 1996, when police arrested Travis Lewis. He was

SALLY SNOWDEN MCKAY, JOSEPH LEE BAKER, AND MARTHA MCKAY

a fifteen-year-old boy from a well-respected local family. His grandparents rented from Sally, and his mother, Gladys, had been her housekeeper for years. Lee had even been Travis’ English teacher. Police had evidence linking Travis to the crime. He was facing death if convicted but the Snowden family asked for leniency. They wanted the death penalty taken off the table. Eventually, Travis pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to twenty-eight and a half years in prison.

Martha McKay, Sally’s daughter, took over for her mother at Snowden House. She missed her mother

desperately but decided she had to forgive Travis Lewis. This was her way of turning tragedy into something good. Martha befriended Travis while he was in prison. They exchanged letters and she became like an aunt to him. When he came up for parole, Martha advocated for his release. After serving twenty-two years, Travis was released from prison and went to work for Martha at the Snowden Plantation.

Things were great for a while, but one day Martha sold a chandelier for $10,000. She stashed away the cash until she could deposit it. However, the next day the money was gone. Travis had been the

Darlene Hildreth and her good friend and fellow homeschool mom Melody Gwyn are two Southern, Christian women who met a their local homeschool community and discoverd a shared interest in true crime. They meet once a week for coffee while taking turns telling each other fascinating, historical true crime stories on their true crimes podcast, Hard Times & True Crimes.

Darlene loves Southern culture, history and a good story! For her fifteenth birthday, her G-pa gifted her an Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. She owes her fascination of psychology, true crime and fear of the dark to him. Darlene has been married to her husband for twenty-five years. They have four children together and have spent the majority of the past twenty-six years homeschooling. This year Curtis and Darlene were blessed with two daughters-in-law and their first grand baby.

only person with her that day. It broke her heart but she was forced to fire him.

On March 25, 2020, two years after Travis’ release, police responded to an alarm at Snowden House. They walked in to find 63-year-old Martha McKay's dead body at the top of the stairs— stabbed, bludgeoned, and wrapped in blankets. They saw a man jump from a twostory window into a nearby car. He tried peeling out of the driveway but the car got stuck in the mud. The man panicked and proceeded to jump from the car into the nearby lake. Witnesses saw him go under water but he never resurfaced. Authorities brought in equipment to assist in recovering the man’s body. They were shocked to realize the perpetrator was thirty-nine-year-old Travis

108 Sunset Avenue Asheboro, NC 27203 (336) 628-4708

Lewis. He had murdered Martha McKay twenty-three years after taking the life of her mother and cousin. Her kindness was repaid with betrayal and shocking violence.

Maybe the lesson for us is that offering forgiveness doesn’t always mean offering reconciliation.

As Christians, we must forgive everyone who wrongs us, just as Jesus has forgiven us. But, it’s unwise to forget what experience has taught us. When people show you who they are, believe them. Trust must be earned over time. Giving it prematurely is foolish and can have disastrous consequences.

Listen to the detailed story of The Snowden Family Murders on Hard Times and True Crimes Podcast.

Nannie Mae’s Cafe & Bakery @nanniemaes

THE SNOWDEN HOUSE

SPOTLIGHT ON... The Point

Each issue, we feature a different homeschool co-op. This time, we're talking to Lauren Rathbone, director of The Point Co-op in Thomasville.

Homeschool Connections:

Can you tell me a little bit of basic information about your co-op… where you’re located, how long you’ve been established, what grades you serve, what days you meet, etc?

Lauren: The Point is located at Mt. Pleasant Church in Thomasville. After much prayer and consideration, we started classes in January 2024. Currently, we serve grades K-12 on Tuesday and Thursday mornings during the fall and spring semesters.

HC: Do you have a mission statement that you’d like to share?

Lauren: The Point is an outreach ministry of Mt. Pleasant Church focusing on the Christian, academic, and experiential education of our

community homeschooling students, boldly sharing Jesus’ unfailing love, and training ambassadors to Christ’s mission.

HC: What made you decide to start up the co-op?

Lauren: Mt. Pleasant is blessed to have a large homeschooling community! Part of our mission statement is to “...turn the community upside down for Jesus”—what better way to further this than to train Ambassadors for Christ in the formative years?

HC: About how many students/ families do you currently have in your co-op?

Lauren: We currently have about 25 families in our co-op with almost 40 families registered at this point.

HC: Do parents stay with their children, or do they drop them off?

Lauren: Parents K-5 are asked to stay on campus, and have room (and wifi!) to work and homeschool, read, or play with children Pre-K and younger. 6th-12th grade parents may leave campus on a limited basis as long as a proxy adult is available for any emergencies that may arise.

HC: What opportunities/ expectations do you have for parent involvement?

Lauren: For full registration, we ask that at least 20 spots per semester be given in volunteering spots. Those registering for the PE only tier need to complete at least 8 spots per semester as a PE class or nursery helper.

For all volunteer roles, we love to get the entire family involved! We are blessed beyond measure to have parents and grandparents serving.

Noah and Mrs. Cindy find the heart of the matter.

Pastor Chris Clontz and our middle/high students learn from IEW's Andrew Pudewa via video.

Our parents are also integral parts of our field trips and fun events—we couldn’t do it without them!

All volunteers must have a clear and current background check.

HC: What kinds of classes does your co-op currently offer?

Lauren: For the first semester, we offered a Bible playgroup, business, crafting, gardening/homesteading, health, PE, and public speaking. In the fall, we are offering so much more! Art, Bible, career exploration, cursive/script, first aid/CPR, literature/ composition, math, PE, and reading/ writing are available with some classes available on multiple age/ grade levels.

HC: Can you tell me a little bit more about your teachers? If someone is interested in teaching a subject, what do you require?

Lauren: Our teachers are the best! Many have homeschooling experience as well as graduate degrees and lifelong learning accentuating their class subject matter. As with our volunteers, all teachers must have a clear and current background check.

Interested teachers may visit our website at mtpleasant. church/homeschool and find the “Teacher Interest” graphic on the page. There is a button linked to the application. The application should be completed, and a resume uploaded along with it.

If the teacher’s interest field is needed for an upcoming semester, an interview will be set up. From there, if the teacher and the interest field is a good fit, scheduling and background check will then happen.

HC: Do you offer anything other than classes? Field trips, workshops, social events, etc.

Lauren: We love experiential as well as academic work, so field trips are a must! Recently, we have attended Old Salem’s Homeschool Day and Alpha Omega Corn Maze, and have plans to attend the Armstrong Artisan Farm’s Spring Festival as well as the brand new Kaleidium in downtown WinstonSalem.

In January, we hosted a High School Transcript workshop presented by Gullion’s, and plan to have another

in the fall. A driver’s education course was hosted at Mt. Pleasant in February.

For social events, we have had pizza party fundraiser days and look forward to our end of the semester party. Fall semester will start with orientation and family fun day.

HC: If someone is interested in joining your co-op, what would they need to do?

Lauren: They should join our classes! Registration for the fall semester will be available through Monday, April 8th as well as late registration nearer to the beginning of the fall semester on August 20th. There is limited availability, so we encourage registration as early as possible.

Spring registration is proposed for December 9th for new and prospective families.

More information is available on our website at mtpleasant.church/ homeschool as well as our social media channels on Facebook and Instagram@mtphomeschool on both. n

If you’re in charge of a co-op and would like us to feature your community, email heidi@cnchomeschool.com.

Pizza always brings friends closer together!

Mrs. Brittany and K-2 students enjoy a sunny day with dirt and worms!

HOMESCHOOL CO-OPS IN CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA

Below is a partial listing of area co-ops. We'd love to add more in future issues. If you are affiliated with a co-op that you would like to see included, please email us at info@cnchomeschool.com.

Co-op Name Location Meeting Day(s)

Central STEM Classes WinstonSalem

Tuesdays and/ or Thursdays

Classical Conversations Various locations throughout the area. See our website to find a community near you.

Varies according to location

Brief Description

We are a Christian co-op and a ministry of Central Triad Church. We offer classes to homeschooled children in grades K-12. The in-class meetings focus on hands-on activities that cannot be easily done at home. We offer over 120 classes, and they include a variety of options in addition to STEM!

Classical Conversations is a proven Christian homeschool program created by parents for parents. We do this through a Christ-centered and family-friendly approach to homeschooling that makes everything biblical and hospitable, focused on three simple key areas: Classical, Christian and Community. Our program covers K-4 to college credit and includes college degree opportunities for parents, as well. We believe that you are the best educator for your student, and we make the homeschool journey doable. We not only provide you with a consistent roadmap that you can follow at your own pace, but also connect you with a local homeschool community group, giving you accountability and the support of knowing you are not in this journey alone.

For more information

Website: centralstemnc.com

Contact: centralstemnc@gmail.com

Visit our website: classicalconversations.com

Fill out the contact form on our website for more information.

EMMA Resource Classes southern Greensboro Tuesdays and Fridays

Heritage Kids East Side Baptist Church, Asheboro, NC

EMMA (Enriching, Mentoring, Mastering, and Achieving) Since formation of the EMMA program, in Greensboro in 1996, the classes have functioned as a Christ-centered support system designed to be a helpful, affordable aid to homeschooling families.

Wednesdays Heritage Kids Homeschool Co-op is organized to provide supplemental educational opportunities and group activities for children. We have classes available for children from preschool to middle school ages but are excited about our opportunity to grow. Heritage is intended to complement the home educator’s curriculum with elective classes to enhance our children’s studies in a Christian environment. Our selection of classes changes every semester depending on the interest of the students but SERVE has been a class that has a lot of interest. We go out and serve different organizations in the community. Some of our other classes include: Art for different ages, Science, Bible study for different ages, and PE.

Visit our website: www.emmagso.com

Or email: emmagso@yahoo.com

Visit our Facebook page: @ Heritage Kids Homeschool Co-op

High Point Home Educators Oak View Baptist Church. High Point, NC

Mondays

Kid’s Rush Rushwood Church, Asheboro, NC

The Point Mt. Pleasant Church, Thomasville, NC

Thursdays

The purpose and mission of High Point Home Educators Christian co-op is to provide support, guidance, encouragement, and educational opportunities according to Biblical principles and ideals for home educating families in the Triad area of North Carolina.

We offer educational opportunities primarily through our Fall and Spring semesters of weekly K-12 LIFE Classes, as well as fun social events.

LIFE Classes provide families with a wide variety of both core and elective subjects for their children to share and learn together in a positive group setting. This is a drop off program with a once a semester parent hall monitoring requirement.

We are a group of Christian parents dedicated to taking back the education of our children by placing God at the center of their learning. We offer classes for preschoolers through high school taught by parents or local tutors. Our class selection depends on the interest of the students currently attending. Some of our most popular classes have included: Woodworking, Cosmetology, Theater, Career Exploration, Cooking Around the World and Art.

For more information, Use the Contact Us form in the menu link on our website, www. highpointhomeeducators.com

There are also helpful menu links on the website for timely information on our LIFE Classes program, as well as our JOIN link for annual co-op membership.

Visit our Facebook page: @ Kid’s Rush Co-op

Or Email: kidsrushcoop@gmail.com

THE Classes New Life Family Fellowship, Asheboro, NC

Tuesdays and Thursdays

Veritas Antioch Community Church 1600 Power Line Rd., Elon, NC 27244

Tuesdays

The Point is an outreach ministry of Mt. Pleasant Church in Thomasville focusing on the Christian, academic, and experiential education of community homeschooling students, boldly sharing Jesus’ unfailing love, and training ambassadors to Christ’s mission. K-12 are currently enrolled with PK being added in the future.

THE Classes is a faith-based, parent-led coop that offers a variety of classes for kids of all ages, from preschool through adult. Classes vary by semester, but past classes have included art, stix/twigs music ministry, LEGO robotics, cooking, cake decorating, yearbook, sewing, Apologia science classes, and more.

Visit our website: mtpleasant.church/homeschool

Find us on Facebook and Instagram @mtphomeschool

Wednesdays drop-off

“Veritas” is a Latin word for truth. Veritas Classes began in 2003 to provide weekly tutorials from an unapologetically Christian worldview to enrich your homeschool environment, assist you in leading your child toward his academic goals, and see your child grow closer to the Lord through positive relationships with instructors and peers. Our classes meet once a week for 30 weeks on Wednesday mornings, from the end of August to the end of April. Our classes are open to primarily middle and high school students. Class sizes are limited, and registration is on a first-come first-served basis.

Visit our website: www.homeschool-life.com/NC/ theclasses4asheboro

Or Email: TuesdayClasses4@gmail.com

Visit our website: Veritasclasses.org

Or email: Vicky Bunting vickybunting2001@gmail.com

HEALTH Spring &

BINGO

BROUGHT TO YOU BY S&L NATURAL FOODS

1

Take an epsom salt bath… Detox naturally with a warm bath enhanced with epson salt! Add some essential oils to your water for extra health benefits— from peppermint and eucalyptus for your sinuses to lavender and other relaxing oils—we have something for everyone!

2

Go to bed early one night… Having trouble going to sleep or staying asleep? Sleep is essential for overall health and wellbeing. Shop our selection of melatonin and natural sleep aids for the perfect night’s sleep.

3

Add a daily multivitamin to your routine... for overall health benefits, shop in-store today for quality, food-based multivitamins for the whole family! We have a variety of multivitamins for men, women and children available in liquid, capsule, and chewable.

4Do 10 push-ups a day for a week…Don’t sweat it! Stock up on your favorite deodorants, shampoos and soaps—for clean, toxin free, personal care items made with natural ingredients.

5

Try a new healthy recipe… We have tons of healthy grocery items available to get you started! From farm fresh eggs and a variety of gluten-free, organic, and NON-GMO ingredients to ready made snacks and drinks—we have something for everyone.

6

Do 20 squats a day for a week… do you feel the burn? Work thru those aches and pains, and shop our selection of magnesium sprays, lotions and flakes for some quick relief for those sore muscles.

7

Take a probiotic for good gut health… balanced gut bacteria is vital for bowel regularity, mood and overall good health…so go with your gut, and shop in-store now.

8

Ditch the sodas for a week… Replace your traditional sodas with healthier alternatives! Shop our wonderful selection of naturally sweetened and flavored drinks to keep you satisfied, without all of the junk.

9Treat yourself to some fresh pineapple… Bromelain is a compound present in the pineapple used for various health benefits—including relieving sinus problems, reducing inflammation, and improving digestion!

10

Take 5 deep breaths of your favorite essential oils… and share your favs with a friend! Whether you’re looking for a relaxing blend for bedtime, a little something to open up your airways or a non-toxic alternative to candles to give your space ambiance—we have a wonderful selection of oils for all of your needs.

11

12Try a new walking trail…stock up on protein bars, dried fruit, bottled water and jerky —available in a variety of flavors—to stay energized as you hit the trails.

13Ditch the shoes and walk barefoot outside… Walking barefoot on grass, sand, or even mud reduces inflammation, reduces anxiety, promotes better sleep, improves mood, helps circulation, and balances natural rhythms.

14Add an extra 20 minutes of quiet time to your day… stress can be extremely harmful for your health, that’s why it’s so important to take a moment to unplug and slow down. With that in mind, we have plenty of supplements available to help you quiet your mind and decompress.

15Turn off the TV… read a book instead while you soak your feet! Stock up on mineral & epsom salt for the perfect detoxing foot bath.

16

Eliminate dairy for a day… shop our selection of dairy-free alternatives that are glutenfree, organic, and NON-GMO —we have something for everyone.

17

Drink an extra 8 oz. of water…Stay hydrated and healthy this winter season! Shop our selection of bottled spring, mineral and flavored waters. Or bring your gallon bottles and fill-up on alkaline or purified water in-store today!

Don’t look at your phone for 1 hour after waking up! Start

your day right instead with trace mineral drops for a refreshing, super hydrating and energizing beginning...

18Spend 30 minutes outdoors today and enjoy some natural vitamin D… Can’t make it outside? Load up on supplemental vitamin D for a happier, healthier you.

19Try a new exercise this week… what’ll it be—cardio, strength training or Pilates? Feel the burn, and shop our selection of protein powders to help improve your workouts and fuel those sore muscles.

20Exercise 3x this week… enhance your workout experience, shop our selection of preworkout products & supplements… and get moving!

21Have a cup of warm bone broth before bed… and enjoy tons of

health benefits:

• Supports healthy sleep

• Boosts collagen

• Supports healthy digestion

• Helps maintain the immune system

• Improves joint pain and stiffness

22Stretch before bed… get a good night’s sleep for overall health and well-being. Shop our selection of melatonin and natural sleep aids for the perfect night’s sleep.

23Eliminate sweets for a day… and manage your blood sugar throughout the year with supplements like berberine, cinnamon and our advanced blood sugar control, plus more…

24Add 1 minute of jumping jacks to your workout… fuel your muscles, shop in-store to stock up on protein shakes, energy drinks, and so much more! n

Join Our Summer Adventure at Randolph County Public Libraries

Ready to embark on amazing adventures this summer? The Randolph County Public Libraries (RCPL) welcomes you to have fun in our Summer Reading Program adventure beginning June 2024. Watch spectacular performances and engage in a series of awesome learning-based adventures that are fun for the whole family!

The Summer Reading Program encourages students to continue reading throughout the summer to prevent the dreaded summer slide in literacy retention and education. The theme for this year’s Summer Reading Program is “Adventure Begins at Your Library.”

Sign up at your local branch and track the minutes you spend reading this summer. The minutes you report can help you win fun prizes! Performances do not require signup unless otherwise noted. Stop by your local library to register in one of these locations: Archdale, Franklinville, Liberty, Randleman, Ramseur, Seagrove, or Asheboro. Remember to grab a calendar of events; every library will offer free and fun entertainment, including crafts, story times, and professional performances.

This June, dance to the band Different Drum, led by multi-instrumentalist Alex Weiss. Different Drum bridges the sounds of Africa and the Americas in their upbeat musical performances, weaving together the sounds of soulful sambas, majestic Andean melodies, lively Calypsos and South African Township music. Children and families will be transported by the music to an African adventure, learning more about cultural musical traditions. All ages are welcomed, and no registration is required.

The Different Drum shows in June will take place as follows:

n Archdale, 10433 S. Main St., 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 18; n Asheboro, 201 Worth Street, 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, June 18; n Franklinville, 111 Sumner Place, 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 19; n Liberty, 239 S. Fayetteville St., 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 18; n Ramseur, 1512 S. Main St., 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 20; n Randleman, 142 W. Academy St., 3:30 p.m. Thursday, June 20; n Seagrove, 530 Old Plank Road, 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 19.

In July, the family-friendly magician Mr. Fantastic will enchant crowds throughout Randolph County with spectacular close-up magic and hilarious audience participation! Have your cameras ready for the many opportunities to catch your children laughing from all the comedic antics. This fantastical adventure will encourage patrons of all ages to check out books from the library about magic tricks and illusions to keep the magic alive! All ages are welcomed, and no registration is required.

The Mr. Fantastic shows in July will take place as follows:

n Archdale, 10433 S. Main St., 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 17; n Asheboro, 201 Worth Street, 2:30 p.m. Friday, July 19; n Franklinville, 111 Sumner Place, 10:30 a.m. Monday, July 15; n Liberty, 239 S. Fayetteville St., 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, Jul 16; n Ramseur, 1512 S. Main St., 10:30 a.m. Thursday, July 18; n Randleman, 142 W. Academy St., 3:30 p.m. Thursday, July 18; n Seagrove, 530 Old Plank Road, 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 19.

Catch these performances and many more at your Randolph County Public Libraries! Visit RandolphLibrary.org/summer for more information on how to sign-up for Summer Reading and review summer performance calendars for each branch.

This project is supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a division of the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. Proceeds from the nonprofit used bookstore the Friends of the Randolph County Public Libraries have also supported these local performances.

Summer Events at Carolina Dance and Gymnastics

Taylor Swift Dance Party

Ages 5 - 12

Grab your bestie for a night of Taylor Swift songs, friendship bracelets, fairy hair and crafts!

July 12

Splish Splash Mermaid Bash

Ages 2 - 12

24

Join us for water games, inflatables, and yard games!

Mommy and Me Tea

with the White Rabbit Tea Party Rental

Ages 2 - 6

Ages 7 - 12

9

Bring your mom for cupcake decorating and tea!

info@CarolinaDanceAndGymnastics.com www.CarolinaDanceAndGymnastics.com

Central Carolina Homeschool Mock Trial Team Wins State Title

The Central Carolina Homeschoolers seized victory at the North Carolina High School Mock Trial Competition held at Campbell Law School in Raleigh on March 16, 2024. The competition included a field of nearly 100 teams—public schools, private schools, and homeschool groups—from across the state. This win marked CCH’s seventh state championship title.

Seniors Haley Kramer and Grace O’Brien, juniors Daisy Gaither and Madalynn O’Brien, and sophomores Becca Bainbridge, Jonathan Duckett, and Julia Pennington displayed exceptional teamwork and legal prowess throughout the

tournament. In preliminary rounds, Becca Bainbridge was recognized for two Best Attorney Awards and Jonathan Duckett was recognized with two Best Witness Awards. In the championship round, Haley Kramer was recognized as Best Attorney and Grace O’Brien was recognized as Best Witness by the presiding judge, North Carolina Chief Justice Paul Newby.

Capturing the state championship earned for CCH the right to compete at the National High School Mock Trial Championship against other state champion teams. This year, the tournament will take place starting on May 2, 2024 and will be held in Wilmington, Delaware. CCH won the

National Championship in 2017 in Hartford, Connecticut. Join us in celebrating their remarkable achievement and wishing them the best of luck at the national competition!

Youth Theatre Summer Camps

in Asheboro and Lexington

www.adventuresintheatre.com

RANDOLPH COUNTY 4-H SUMMER PROGRAMS

Looking for fun, hands-on, educational activities for your child this summer? Randolph County 4-H is excited to offer 4-H summer programs from June-August. These day camps provide hands-on learning activities and field trips related to a variety of topics, from agriculture and historical site visits to painting and college tours. Participating youth must be 5-18 years old as of January 1st, 2024. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/ randolph4h or go.ncsu.edu/randolphco4h

The Funny Bone

This spring, my mom opened a flower and gift shop. Business is blooming.

What do you call a well-dressed lion? A dandy lion!

Why did the mushroom go to the party? Because he was a fungi!

What type of bird should you never take to a bank? A robin.

What do you call a bee that can't make up its mind? A maybee

And in honor of Star Wars Day on May the 4th...

What kind of car does a Jedi drive? A toy Yoda.

What do you call Chewbacca when he gets chocolate in his fur? A chocolate chip Wookie.

Luke and Obi-Wan walk into a Chinese restaurant. Ten minutes into the meal, Luke's still having trouble with the chopsticks, dropping food everywhere. Obi-Wan finally snaps, "Use the forks, Luke."

DO MORE Summer Camp

At The Randolph-Asheboro YMCA

This year's focus is going to be on Fun and Fitness. Our goal is to get kids active and have fun.

We will give each child a structured but fun Summer Camp experience. Some of the things we have planned for the summer include field trips, a summer long volunteer project, crafts, daily devotions, outdoor activities and other exciting activities. Campers going into 1st through Sixth Grade are eligible to sign up for camp. Sign up for Summer Camp online or at the YMCA front desk. Through a Christian perspective, the Randolph-Asheboro YMCA wants to provide kids with an experience that they will remember for years. We want to provide a service that is convenient and affordable.

Scholarships are available to families who may need assistance.

YMCA Summer Camp offers your kids a chance to have fun while building a healthy spirit, mind and body. Some of the activities for the summer include:

• Swimming

• Special Group Events

• Splash Pad Fun

• Community Program Collaborations

• Outdoor Games

• Movies

• Arts & Crafts

• Sports

• Scavenger Hunts

• Field Trips

• Team Building Activities

• Community Service Projects

• Dance Classes

• Yoga Classes

To find out more about Summer Camp visit randolphasheboroymca.com/summer-day-camp or email dkrayniewski@asheboroymca.com

cupcake liner FLOWERS Kidoku

These cupcake liner flowers make an attractive centerpiece for your table... and they don't wilt or shed! This craft is best suited for middle/high schoolers, or younger students with lots of parental help.

What you'll need:

• colorful cupcake liners

• sticks or wooden skewers

• hot glue gun

• scissors

Directions:

1. Using four cupcake liners at a time, fold and cut them following the pictorial above. You’re basically just folding the liners in half, and then in half again to create a small fan. Next, cut out “petals” on the long, round edge. You can do this with curvy or straight lines. Snip the corner so that you can insert a “stem.”

2. Loop the liners onto the end of a stick, and then one cupcake liner at a time, hot glue the bases down, pinching them together to create what looks like a flower.

3. Once all the cupcake liners are attached to the sticks, your bouquet of flowers is complete! Arrange them in a vase or container of your choice.

A beginner version of Sudoku for kids! Fill in the blank squares so that each row, each column and each 4-by-2 block contain all of the digits 1 thru 8.

Solution on page 19

Binox

The finished puzzle should be filled with Xs and Os. Horizontally and vertically, there should never be a continuous run of the same symbol longer than 2. There are an equal number of Xs and Os in each row and column. All rows are unique. All columns are unique, too.

Puzzle

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