Growing Up Wild About Missions

Encouraging Children to Impact the World for God's Glory

"Go and make disciples of every nation, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Go and teach them to observe all I have commanded, and I will be with you until the end of the age."

Matthew 28:19-20  The Great Commission

One of our top ten goals as homeschooling parents is to instill in our children a heart for missions. Each year at Christmas we work with Operation Christmas Child as a family, filling up boxes for little ones in far off places who may not receive anything else all year. Tex will spend a few days at his grandparents' house with friends (his grandparents run the program in their large church) so they can help pack the big boxes of little boxes and load the large trucks. Daddy will take the Three Amigos on Sunday to Nanny and Poppy's church to help collect the last of the donations. Other years we've also contributed to Angel Tree, adopted individual families, or worked with other services, like the military, to fill community needs.

During the rest of the year we show missions support by providing funds for individuals on a monthly and/or one time basis and sent out family members as needed during times of disaster, like after hurricanes. We make donations of items and do our best to find opportunities to include the kids in missions projects. Bubba was blessed to take a five week missions trip during his high school years, and I have hopes that Tex will make at least one similar trip during the next few years. We encourage our children to choose Spanish as their foreign language as it seems to provide the most opportunities to use it on the missions field.

Beyond that, however, there isn't much more I can say. I see families like the Duggars (on TV) making yearly trips to foreign places to work with orphans and can't imagine being able to do that. My husband's job is so demanding, it will be years before retirement allows him the opportunity to take the older kids out of country to serve others. I hear of other families whose children decide to be missionaries and wonder what influences made the idea even a possibility...I know when I was growing up, not much entered my thoughts beyond horses or being a vet...and it took years after college before I realized I might have been a great librarian or social worker, jobs I never considered because I just didn't experience them (beyond checking out books, that is), let alone the missions field.

Some families have the privilege of knowing some missionaries personally. We've moved around so much because of our military lifestyle that we haven't developed the community ties that make it possible for us to be familiar enough with local folks like that we could invite into our home to have dinner with us and to talk with the kids. Honestly, while I don't personally imagine any of my children in a dangerous third world country taking chances every day with their lives for the call of Christ (nor do I imagine any of them joining the armed services and getting shot at, if you know what I mean), I do know that is a possibility. I would not want to be the one to stand in the way of their answering God's calling on their lives, and I do not want to be an impediment to their finding out what it is. But honestly, if it is foreign missions, how am I going to give them any idea of what missions is if my only experiences with it are limited to those on the home front?

Well, now that I've discovered Growing Up Wild, I think I've found a way to at least expose them to the idea and the reality of what some missionaries go through, in a way that is fun, interesting, and likely to encourage them to want to explore the potential of the calling on their own. Growing Up Wild is a collection of DVDs that takes you into the jungles of Indonesia and shows you the day to day exploits of the four Wild brothers. Beyond that, it lays out the basics of foreign missions, in the context of this one family's experiences, in a way that is understandable and honestly, lights a fire in their hearts to know more.

The first DVD is an excellent introduction to the brothers and their daily lives. The heart of the family is the home (after God and Mom, of course), and the initial segment shows the details of the design and construction of their round house in the jungles of Papua, New Guinea with the Wano people. The approximately fifteen minute segment (their are three segments per video), also takes you on a tour of the home, which is fascinating, and shows you how their house is similar to that of the Wano people, but also different, in the same way that it will prove to be surprisingly similar to yours, but also different.

I was amazed that they not only have running water and electricity (real toilets and a glass enclosed shower, even), but they have computers, a school room, and the coolest Lego Loft (my kids LOVED that). I told Ladybug, "Wow. I love it. I could live in that house. It's so simple, yet complete." She replied, "No you couldn't, Mom. They have tarantulas living in the rafters." True. That's a deal breaker for me for sure. The Wild boys shoot them with rubber bands and spear them when the population gets too big or they get too close. Otherwise, they are accepted since they do a good job keeping the insect population down. Ugh. Shiver.

At the end of each segment, which on this tape were all narrated by the mother (Dad narrates a few in DVD #4), ideas for integrating the information you were given during the piece are offered. This particular story opened with how their dad picked the home site because of a beautiful HUGE tree nearby he knew his wife would love to see every day, and it suggests that you find a tree near your house that is inspiring and draw it. The story also includes mention of one of the tribal men who loves to spin a yarn, so they suggest that you find a relative or neighbor who likes to tell stories and listen to and/or write down a few of them.

A third suggestion for this segment is that you look up how houses are made in your area and other areas and read them, and I can think of at least five books in our library, plus another video or two that cover that topic...unit study! Another fine suggestion is to draw a Venn diagram of how the Wilds' house is similar to and different from yours and from the Wano houses (the Wano people are communal and many generations share their homes with each other and with their animals...they also have no furniture!). The last one of the five suggestions available at the end of every segment is the one my kids want to do on the available day (since we watched the video again to refresh our memories of it) is to construct a model of a Wano style house using twigs and other materials. Now I realize why after our initial watching of the video they found a corner of the horse pasture with a few small trees where they started to construct kid-sized stick huts...this video! They've played in those regularly for a month. What about that is there to not like? Each DVD even comes with an additional CD which contains an activity guide that gives more guidance for each of the suggested activities. Excellent! Here is a sample of the activity guide for the first disk.

God and His influence and presence through everything is mentioned throughout every story (in some more than others) but His importance and guidance is clear. Scripture is used throughout the two videos we viewed and I found the quality of the writing to be excellent. I was impressed to learn that Mom and Dad did all of the work! Impressive and inspiring. They are definitely a talented family. The filming is spectacular. The scenery can't be beat. The colors are vivid and the beauty will take your breath away. Even the introductory music has a catchy beat.

The other two segments in the first DVD covered the way the family obtains electricity (solar panels) and water (gathered from an uphill clear water source using gravity...simple and simply ingenious at the same time) and how they go "out of country" to obtain supplies and to connect with other missionaries in their area. The house segment will inspire your budding architects and your homemakers (I really think I could be quite happy there, if not for the spiders...even the pythons did not bother me that much), power segment will inspire your budding engineers, and the one about getting supplies will encourage your wanna-be pilots.

I know this may sound simple of me, but while I have tried to be open to each of my kids being called to any career from architect to army doctor, teacher to technician, homemaker to horseman, I never considered any of those jobs in light of using them on the mission field. It's obvious to me how a doctor can help on the missions field, and a translator, but I never would have considered my tech savvy guy working with radios to keep in touch with missionaries all over a foreign country, or my budding park ranger to perhaps range away far from his home. But if that is what God has in mind, it could happen...and these videos may be one key that will unlock the possibility in their minds.

The other DVD we viewed, the fourth one, is just as good. While during our initial viewing I didn't appreciate the first segment about the creatures the Wilds' encounter every day since I saw it first and on its own (I didn't feel it was "deep" enough since I was comparing its "mission" to stuff like Ken Ham and other creation science materials...but its intent is to glorify God and simply introduce the variety the children encounter daily within the scope of what you already know about them), seeing it after all I've learned about the family from that first DVD makes me really appreciative of the content...and the kids loved seeing the bugs, the snakes, and how similar their cats are to ours. Their cat likes to play with and eat bugs and mice. We have one that just the other day stalked a spider cricket (creepy bugs...I found one leg left the next day), and another that loves toads and moles. Living in the country, our most hated vermin is mice (which surprisingly was their most disliked vermin, not the spiders), and I've been stalking those that are trying to come in and make a home for the winter somewhere warm all week with Molly's help. It was interesting to see the similarities, alongside the differences.

My favorite thing about the videos, though, was how clearly they laid out their calling to the missions field, and showed that there are many ways to serve. I appreciated hearing their story, and their uncle's story (he works in a village within a few hours of theirs by plane), and how they began their journey of outreach to the people of Indonesia. It was fascinating to hear how they had to move in not knowing the language at all, and that it took them three years to master it. Now they run a school for all the people and also the church for the 69 (I think) converts in the village. Their aunt translates the Bible and other texts to help native peoples learn, and the Wilds' had to develop a written language. Daunting. Impressive. Made possible only by God.

I believe these videos would be valuable to a variety of folks. They would be useful for a Sunday School class (running a family or youth Sunday School class? This would be a fun conversation starter!), or for Wednesday church, or a home Bible study. I'd love to have friends over to view a segment and do a day long (or multiple day) unit study with these. Church libraries should have these videos for people to check out. I will be purchasing the other three to keep in my Lifetime of Learning Library. They are also just plain fun to watch. As we watched them together again yesterday, my kids told me over and over again, "Oh Mom, watch this. It is my favorite part." And my formerly squeamish Ladybug, who groaned and covered her eyes the first time we watched the videos and the pet green python was on the screen (which is actually yellow because it is young) said this last time as we watched them together, "The snakes used to bother me, but now it's no big deal." Way to go, girl!

One funny comment was, "Mom, two of the boys have hair like Cowboy and Boo's, but two of them have curly long hair like a girl." Cultural difference there. *smile* We don't see too many long-haired guys around here. Too many military folks. Another comment was, "It's hot there, Mom. That's why those boys don't ever wear their shirts. Don't let it bother you." (We have a rule around here to always wear shirts unless mowing the back 14 in hot weather...not wearing shirts is not allowed in the front yard for boys, and for girls, obviously, ever!). "They try not to show too much of the natives (notice the wording was 'too much of,' not 'too many of'...they show plenty of native people), Mom, but they don't wear many clothes." The Wano people are scantily clad, but the way it is filmed, and, I think partially because they are so dark-skinned, you just don't focus on or really notice that fact too much.

No bad language. Creepy snakes and bugs. God-affirming messages and scriptures...Mr. Wild shares the Gospel story and there is footage of one of the Wano people giving his testimony in one of the segments. Scantily clad people. Gorgeous scenery. Body piercings...demonstrated on camera...eeyeuw. Mrs. Wild let her two oldest boys get their noses piereced (a native custom) with a STICK. She talked about how she wrestled with it, then decided how God's word allows for different customs as long as there is nothing unsacred behind the reasons for the custom. The boys teared up, but were brave (no anesthesia...ack!). At the end of the segment, one of the suggested activities was to find a stick, sharpen it, and pierce your nose...NOT! No, actually, they jokingly suggested it, then said, "No, just kidding...do NOT try this at home!" The kids howled over that one.

Good morals. Happy family. Personally challenging. Informative. Interesting. Funny at times. Humbling at others. You will be challenged to pray and to figure out what God wants you and your family to personally do to share the Gospel with other people...does He want you to pray, to give, or to go? He calls us all to do something...are you doing enough? After seeing these videos, you may not think you are doing enough, so if you don't want to be challenged, you might want to skip them. Otherwise, I give them a hearty two thumbs up. I think that watching these will help your kids and mine grow up wild about foreign missions...and that's an eternally good thing. 

If you would like to learn more about the Growing Up Wild DVDs, you can check out their website.

See some sample videos of Growing Up Wild and learn about the people who made it.

See a sample of the activity guides that come with each DVD on a separate cd. What an excellent resource to tap into!

Meet their family on their blog and check out their Jungle Journal...recipes, games, etc.!

Volume One is available for $18.99 and covers building and touring their house, how they buy supplies and the necessary aerial support, and obtaining electricity and water. (I definitely recommend purchasing the first video first, though, even if the topics on other DVDs intrigue you more. It is definitely worth it to get the background of the family's set up first.)

Volume Two is available for $18.99 and covers adventures indoors on a rainy day (with memories of a tropical surfing excursion), exciting outdoor adventures on a hiking and camping trip, plus flora and fauna outside their home.

Volume Three is available for $18.99 and covers the blessings of the good earth and how a seed can feed a village, the history of the jungle and the terrain surrounding the Wilds' home, and how illness in the jungle and compassion for the sick can have eternal consequences.

Volume Four is available for $18.99 and covers God's amazing creation in Indonesia, tribal/cultural differences and customs, and the calling to the missions field. This is the one with the native testimony. Very touching and convicting.

Volume Five  is available for $18.99 and covers discovering the language, the feast, and misconception of missions. The page linked to shows the correct image, but has write ups of the wrong segments. Sounds good, though!

Here's a freebie that goes right along with these lovely videos. Teaching With God's Heart for the World is a free two volume curriculum that teaches world geography with an emphasis on missions. I have a printed copy of this excellent curriculum and it is wonderful, even if you only delve into it deeply enough to find Indonesia and do that chapter to go with the Growing Up Wild DVDs you purchase...

If you'd like to read what others on the Schoolhouse Review Crew have to say about this product, please visit the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog.

Blessings,

Disclaimer: I received two videos from the Growing Up Wild collections (#1 and #4) for the purposes of completing this review. All opinions stated here are my own or those of my family. No other compensation was received.

A Mile in His Shoes

Our family has a tradition of watching a movie every Friday and ordering out for pizza. It gives the kids something consistent to look forward to, gives me a break from cooking, and provides an opportunity for us to view quality movies as a family (and discuss them) without the kids having to feel deprived because we don't often spring for the "real" movie theater experience.

Over the last year or so, I have been blessed by the opportunity to work some new quality family movies into our repertoire that diverge from the usual kiddie, cartoon-y movies that seem to often be the only "clean" movies available (and if you keep track of some of the cartoons out these days, you will know that even being a cartoon does not guarantee appropriateness for children these days). Hubby and I have found this to be a great relief...oh, let's be honest here...I have found this to be a great relief (Hubby is happy with cartoons) because I am just not that into animation, or cartoon-y characters, or constant capers and hi-jinx. 

These new family movies are emerging to fill a market need that producers are starting to identify as "family values.' GASP! It's like Hollywood forgot that there are FAMILIES out there who watch movies, too, and not all parents want their kids to see promiscuous women parade across the screen, hear language not fit for the local pub, or see adults engaged in sleazy high-risk behaviors, and children determined to undermine their parents' authority. It amazes me that the average movie has gotten so bad that even if it has a "good" message, you still have to be cautious about taking your family (even your teens) to it, because it is likely that negative behaviors such as swearing, drinking, and violence will be showcased, all for the sake of  "making it realistic."

Last week for family night we watched a new movie from the Thomas Kincaide collection. Yes, that's Thomas Kincaide the artist. I remember walking through Thomas Kincaide galleries when I was younger, admiring the paintings of cottages and misty streets that seemed to glow from within. Well, he still has those, but these days he has diversified and now he even has Disney, NASCAR, and baseball paintings! Then there are the movies, too. Movies like The Christmas Cottage (available for instant viewing on Netflix...it's a good one), and The Christmas Lodge, and now, A Mile in His Shoes (he also has a painting series based on the movie which you can view HERE).

Based on a true story, A Mile in His Shoes is a film about the profound changes that occur in many lives when a determined minor league coach (played by Dean Cain) recruits a sweet young man named Mickey (played by Luke Schroeder, Ricky Schroeder's son) to be his team's pitcher. Mickey, whom Murph (the coach) discovers on a farm when he runs his car into a ditch in the country, is unusual in a number of ways. First, there is his innocence, because he has been sheltered by his parents (good on you, mom and dad!). Second, there is his amazing pitching arm, which he developed by pitching apples into a wash tub on the farm so they'd splat and make slop for his pet pig (my kids loved that part!). Lastly, there is the fact that he has Asperger's, a type of autism, which means that while he is incredibly talented in some areas, in others (such as social interactions), he has some difficulties coping. In spite of the challenges, though, Mickey and Murph make a great team, and work together to make the Rats' year their best year yet. 

We watched the film on Friday, curled up together on the couches in the parlor, while enjoying CiCi's three specialty pizzas for $9.99 deal (can't beat that one!). We explained to the kids beforehand about the young man being autistic, so they'd understand the context of the movie. They have a friend who is autistic and he is not quite as high functioning as Mickey, so they were a bit confused by that, but overall they got the idea that Mickey was just a really nice guy with a special God-given talent, and that he was blessed to have been influenced by such a passionate and thoughtful coach as Murph. They saw that the real blessing, though, was to the team, whose lives were all changed by their interactions with the young man. The players (and coach) learned to consider more than themselves, and to take stock of what was really important, and Mickey learned to spread his wings and take on a challenge. 

There was only one spot I was uncomfortable with the kids in the room (time for a bathroom break, anyone??), and that was when the "bad guy" has taken Mickey to a party (not a nice one...more like a tailgate in the woods one, but the alcohol use is not overt) where he convinces a female admirer of his to take Mickey for a walk in the woods. I was concerned because I didn't know how far they'd take that scenario, but other than some talk, and a peck on the cheek where she tells Mickey she likes him, it's fairly tame...sort of. The walk turns out to be a set up to get Mickey alone so some guys can beat him up and prevent him from pitching. They really didn't show that either (other than a fist coming for his face), but if it bothers you, you could send the kids out like we did.

The movie was a nice change for the adults (I mean, I love Tangled and Ratatouille, but you can't watch cartoons every week). It was safe for families...no cursing, no (real bad) violence, no guns or crazy chase scenes, no vampires or undead, no (really) sleazy women (the one girl was a bit ditsy, though, and clingy, but in the end, nice)...and it had a good message, or two, or three:

•  Don't judge people. 
• Hard work pays off. 
• Being the "nice guy" CAN get you somewhere. 
• Stand by your friends, teammates, family. 
• You have God-given gifts for a reason...use them. 
• Don't let grief cripple your ability to love (the coach still mourned his son, who died young). 
• There are many people out there who need to be loved for who they are...love them. 
• Second chances don't always happen. If you get one, don't waste it. 
• Take care of those who need protecting. 
• Stand up to your fears. 
• Share your gifts (of teaching, of love, of kindness) with others. 
• Be honest, be kind, be sincere, be determined, be brave, be a friend. 

Those are just some of what my kids and Hubby and I came up with. I am sure that if you watch this movie, you will find your own lessons of value in the story.


I just thought you'd appreciate knowing another movie is out there with family values, so go on out and get yourself a copy, then buy another to add to your church or local library...if everyone did this, there would be more quality choices out there to influence more young lives. Supporting the good films, and refusing to go to the bad ones CAN make a difference. 


This is a Dove Family Approved Movie.

If you'd like to see a trailer of the movie, you can check it out HERE.
If you'd like to buy a copy of the movie, it is available HERE.

If you'd like a copy of this movie without buying it, you can enter my giveaway, which ends on Monday, January 30th at midnight. Just follow me (or let me know that you are already a follower) and leave me a comment telling me who in your family will like this movie the most. I will give ONE bonus entry to the first person who enters...just because I think you are awesome!! I will draw a winner and notify him or her on the 31st (just make sure you leave me an easy way to contact you, or the movie will go to the next name I draw). Thanks!

Blessings,

Beyond Movie Night...Movie Night PLUS!

Last year, our family had the opportunity to review a Z-Guide to the Movies from Zeezok Publishing. We chose the guide for the movie Sergeant York starring Gary Cooper since it is a classic guy movie based on a true story and both of these things appealed to Tex, our then 13 year-old student. You can check out that review here, if you like. Our experience then was a very positive one, and when I was offered the opportunity to review another Z-Guide, I was eager to see if the experience would measure up to our previous one. Well, it did.

We chose to receive the 36 page Z-Guide for the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Another classic film, this time starring the endearing and talented Jimmy Stewart, the movie is one of my dad's favorites and I knew he wouldn't mind watching it with Tex and going over the activities with him. Since 2012 is an election year, I figured it would be a good idea to give Tex something a bit different from the Ancient World History we've been studying, and this movie seemed like it might be a good way to get some lively discussions rolling...and some curiosity about politics roused. I was not disappointed.

What is a Z-Guide?

Basically, each Z-Guide is anywhere from about 25 pages to 35 pages long and contains several important components. Here they are:

• Table of Contents and How to How to Use This Guide:  A listing of the exercises contained in the guide and a suggested five-day course of study for the guide.
• Topic Overview: Gives the viewer necessary background knowledge about the historical setting and characters encountered in the movie.
• Movie Synopsis: This gives a detailed peek at the actual plot of the movie, but it may give away the ending, so you can choose to forego reading this page (or have mom read it and fill in the students without spoiling the ending...though, if your students are like me, they may want to know what to expect).
• Learning Activities: From movie review questions (included in every Z-guide) to crossword puzzles, from art projects to research and writing activities, from performances and interviews to introspection about Worldview,  from in-depth investigation of literary and filmaking devices to historical timelines, from planning battle strategies (Z-Guide for One Night With the King) to a hike in the woods (Z-Guide for My Side of the Mountain), these ten activities offer a variety of ways to explore the movie and to express the student's understanding of its content. There are also some questions for family discussion which make good group conversation starters, as they focus on critical thinking and worldview...kind of like having a Movie Night Plus!
• Answers and Additional Resources: There is an answer key for all questions (including expectations for activities and suggested point values), as well as a listing of further resources you may wish to use.

If you would like to see a sample Z-Guide, here is one based on the movie of The Count of Monte Cristo (that book is a favorite of mine...). You might want to try it out and see what you think (if you are homeschooling a High Schooler, that is...the topic is not really appropriate for younger students). I think you will find you really like the concept of the Z-Guide. Currently, there are 64 Z-Guides to choose from. There are so many that look good to me...I am certain that you will find at least a dozen that you'd like to try, too!!

Z-Guides are organized by historical time period. If you check out the Zeezok site, you will see that they have a timeline on the left sidebar, starting with Ancient Civilizations and going up through the Vietnam War. This makes it very easy for a parent/teacher who is going to be teaching a particular activity to find whether there is a movie with a guide available for the subject that is going to be taught. Simply click on the time period you are getting ready to teach, and you will see which movies fit into that designation.
Zeezok offers both the guides (for $12.99 download or $15.99 cd-rom) and the movies (prices vary, so check the site), though many of the movies can be found at your local library, or through lending services such as Netflix or Blockbuster. We were fortunate and discovered that Mr. Smith Goes to Washington is in the public domain and is available online for FREE! Yay!!!

Also, it is important to know that Z-Guides can be used with multiple grade levels, but they are divided by subject appropriateness and difficulty of topic and activities, so some are considered to be High School level (such as Mr. Smith Goes to Washington), while others are considered to be Elementary/Middle School such as Kit Kittredge (based on the American Girl books). This does not mean that the activities cannot be modified by the teacher to work for multiple levels or that they can't be divided amongst various children according to ability and interest, but it does mean that parents should check a trusted movie review site, such as Plugged In Online to support make sure that the movie they want to view is appropriate for their individual child's age and personality.

Who would benefit from and enjoy a Zeezok Guide?

• Anyone who is studying history and would like a fun and interesting way to "jump start" or "wrap up" a unit...why not try a Movie Night PLUS where you show one of the available Z-Guide movies, do some of the Family Discussion Questions, then start a week long study of the movie the next Monday? Sounds like fun to me!
• Anyone who is studying literature (many old films are based on classic works of literature, such as To Kill a Mockingbird) and would like a way to reinforce the literary work or to present it in an alternate way (ie. for visual learners or those with limited time).
• A teacher who needs a break for any number of reasons, such as illness, a recent birth, travel (something to do on long trips and still counts as school!), long-term visitors, an additional job, calving season (LOL...why not?), holidays, or just for an interesting change of pace.
• Anyone who would like to reinforce or practice literary analysis...many of the Z-Guides discuss things like foreshadowing and mood.
• Someone who is not the usual parent/teacher but will be acting as the caregiver for a short period of time...this would be an easy way to involve someone outside the usual family in the educational process, in a way that would be fun, yet still be learning.
• Any student who appreciates movies and needs to understand history (among many other things) will benefit from and get something out of these Z-Guides. Who doesn't fit into that category?

What did our family think about the Z-Guide we tried?

• Tex said that he LOVED the movie. He thought it was amazing.
• Tex says it really helped him clarify what a filibuster is and got him thinking about how politics affects his life.
• He said he appreciated the questions because they made him focus on important parts of the movie and try to understand them better than he might have if he had just been sitting and casually watching the movie (the questions are written in order of the movie's plot and meant to be answered as the movie progresses).
• Tex said the crossword puzzle was a fun reinforcement of the plot and said that the How a Bill Becomes a Law worksheet helped him put the process in order better than if he'd just tried to visualize it. He and his dad had an intense discussion about the Worldview questions, which they both got something out of...not just knoweldge, but a deeper relationship.
• The one negative thing he said was that a few things were difficult to find online, but since the answer key was available, he had a fallback plan if he got stuck.
• Poppy said this guide was an effective way to help students understand their government and its procedures using one of his favorite movies.
• Poppy feels it is a nice way to get people other than the parent/teachers involved in the kids' education.
• I really like the Z-Guides. I'd love to get the ones for The Ten Commandments and One Night With the King as we are currently doing Ancient History. The only thing that stops me from going crazy and buying a bunch of them (we do love movies!) is that $12.99 for a single download (and the project lasts about a week) seems like a bit much for our budget. I wish Zeezok would offer a multiple purchase discount or a disk with mulitple titles (like and Ancient Studies pack and a World Wars pack).
• I appreciate the preparation and organization of the Z-Guides. It is a great way for mom to get a break from the usual homeschool work week, yet to keep on learning. If I had a bad week/busy week, it would be nice to have a Z-Guide to pull out (I'd really like My Side of the Mountain), so I could feel like the kids are still learning even though I am getting a bit of a break. As a teacher, I definitely see the value of using film as a motivating, inspiring tool. I often encouraged or enticed my students (when I taught 8th grade English) using movies. We watched The Count of Monte Cristo, Cyrano de Bergerac, and even that old animated version of The Hobbit after reading the novels in class...the kids all loved it!
• BUT not every movie needs a Z-Guide. While the questions were very thoughtful, targeted discussions before, during, and following the movie would have sufficed for us as it relates to learning and the movie Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. I think that if we were studying US Government this year, using the Z-Guide during the portion of the curriculum that introduced Congress might have been helpful, but as a random choice (the idea was to have something a little different), maybe the activities were not so relevant to us. In the future I think I'd limit Z-Guide use to specific areas for which we have a particular interest in going deeper.
• I would like to see a bit more in the recommended resources section. Our Z-Guide only listed De Tocqueville's Democracy in America. I am pretty sure there is more out there to support learning about our government procedures than just that one thing...Oh, and one senate website was listed. Ayway, Tex would have explored more online if some direction had been given. I know sites change sometimes, but since it is an e-book, perhaps sites could be updated once a year, or at the very least, a disclaimer could be included so more sites could be listed. Just a suggestion...

If you'd like to see what others on the TOS Review Crew thought about their (many different) Z-Guides, check the Crew Blog HERE.
To read more about Z-Guides, click HERE.
To see a sample of a Z-Guide, click HERE.
To check out the available Z-Guides or to order a Z-Guide, click HERE.
To read my review of the Sergeant York Z-Guide, click HERE (lots of pictures of the guide).
You can LIKE Zeezok on Facebook to receive updates HERE.
Blessings,

Heather

Disclaimer: I received an e-copy of the Z-Guide for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington in order to provide an honest review of the guide here on our blog. All opinions and observations reflect our personal experiences with this product and are not meant to predict or guarantee your family's experiences. If you have questions about this review that I did not answer, please feel free to contact me or comment here.

Change of Plans

I want to get a BIG shout out for the next Family Movie Night movie Change of Plans which premiers on FOX on Saturday, January 8th, at 8 EST/7 CST. Watch this movie!!!!!!

I watched Change of Plans with my seven year old daughter and my thirteen year old son and it was absolutely wonderful. It was appropriate for all ages in your family and has a fabulous message you definitely want everyone to hear. The movie covers multiple "big ideas" in a caring, compassionate, and family-friendly way. The characters are real, and charming, and suitable for everyone. I cannot think of one thing in the movie that I did not like. This is one you will not want to miss. So, please, take the time to add this heartwarming movie to your calendar, order out for pizza, and have the popcorn handy, then settle down on the couch or floor for two hours of enjoyment that will in turn tug at your heart, have you talking back to the screen (and talking to each other), and leave you smiling.

Here is my synopsis of the movie: Basically, a self-focused, self-centered, career driven (yet still nice) couple is surprised with the news that the wife has been named as guardian of her college best-friend's children after a fatal plane crash while on a Peace Corps Mission. The couple is hesitant to accept such a "change of plans" in their busy lives (he's an aeronautical engineer and pilot and she is an aspiring singer), but agrees to take on the kids "temporarily" until a permanent home can be found. The four children, ranging in age from fifteen to about eight, include three adopted orphans from three different countries, who find it challenging to adapt to American life after living in Uganda for so many years. The new "family" is faced with numerous challenges along the way (the biggest hurdle of which is the American social work system), and has to find a way to make all of their differences add up to something special before it is too late.

I was very pleased by most things in this movie, but most of all by the respect and kindness shown by all of the characters, especially the children. Even the wife's worldly agent tones down his language because he is speaking around children. I don't recall a single bad word that was spoken, and the music (of the wife's band), had a nice message and was not overly loud (she was a singer on American Idol, so her voice is good). There was a brief spate of bullying in the storyline, but actual fighting was not shown, and the consequences were real. There were a few tiny kisses between the married couple and they were shown well-covered in bed talking, but while there were romantic interests for the two high school aged kids, this was minor, it seemed innocent, and I do not recall any physical contact. The acting and the film quality for television were top-notch.

The older daughter repeatedly reinforces good manners, and the fledgeling parents do their best to step in and be wise guardians. When the children make mistakes, they are genuinely remorseful, and want to make things better...awesome! The older daughter mentions once that the ladies of her family have a tradition of cooking together, so she'd be pleased to help prepare meals (the wife does not cook). She also asks if she can say a prayer before a meal. She recalls what a caring father she had, who played a strategy board game with her nightly, and taught her important things every day (like how to ride a donkey backwards by sticking a thorn in its tail...Tex thought this was hilarious...) The youngest daughter likes to play, "Tell Me Something" at night, which is basically a chance for the caregiver to tell a story or share a memory. The wife told her touching stories about her mother and showed a profound depth of caring that was quite admirable. Personally, I liked this sweet idea and I think I will call our random memory-sharing experiences "Tell Me Something" from now on.

The movie deals with the differences between our country and other countries (we have soooo much), the difficulty of dealing with a loved one's death, culture shock and adjusting to a new place, integrating families, adoption and foster care, the importance of serving others, making a family dynamic work, respect, giving up dreams for a greater good, and how to choose what is the best thing...During the course of the movie, the young couple goes from self-centered to family-centered, and learns to love the day to day things that having a family brings...eventually finding them to be much more valuable than fleeting fame, fortune, or excitement. The husband says, "[The children] set us on a better path beyond our narrow vision." This sums up all of what the movie is about.

I think you will really like this one. We did. Please, remember that supporting what Walmart and P&G are trying to do with this Family Movie Night initiative is VERY important, so make sure you work watching Change of Plans into your schedule, or set your dv-r, or whatever you do, watch the movie, and then let them know that you really appreciate these family-friendly and appropriate-for-all-ages movies. It is so nice to see something wholesome on regular television (and so rare). Believe me, watching this movie will be a painless way of supporting a good thing. People out there NEED to hear this message, so let's work together to make sure more movies like this continue to grace the airways.

Here is a preview of the movie for you:


:30 Change of
Plans from Moms4FamilyTV.com on
Vimeo.

Check out the network page (with a trailer and a synopsis) for this movie HERE.
Support Family Movie Night by "liking" their page on Facebook HERE.

One last thing I think shows the heart of the movie: In a press release, Brooke White (she plays Sally, the wife) says, "I love this story, because it is emotionally-driven, yet light-hearted and fun. It also shows us that the family comes in all shapes and sizes, and reminds us that sometimes life doesn't turn out the way we planned, but it can be even better. It's a great lesson that I learned firsthand!"
I hope you enjoy this movie as much as we did.

Blessings,

Heather

A Walk in My Shoes

If you read my post from last Friday, you will recall that I was going to try to pre-view NBC's upcoming Family Movie Night movie, A Walk in My Shoes. Well, over the weekend I had the opportunity to view the movie with my son, Tex, and I wanted to tell you a bit about it.

I will tell you right off that I am a fan of NBC's idea for showcasing family-friendly movies on Friday evenings. I think this is a phenomenal idea that those of us who do watch some television should support, because our society is definitely a media-driven one and we need to get more movies and shows with positive messages out there so people can see that there is a better way to live than the pattern set by popular favorites such as The Simpsons, Married with Children, and Friends (you can tell how long it has been since I watched prime-time comedy TV by the fact that I do not know the names of any of the newer sitcoms…and I never watched the ones listed here, either….thankfully).

I want to say up front that when individuals review a product, they are doing so from their own personal bias, their set of experiences, and their worldview, so I want you to realize that while I am attempting to be as objective as possible, this review will naturally have some of my family’s preferences wrapped up in it.

That said, I want you to know that I can recommend this movie for most families. Overall, my son, Tex, and I enjoyed it, and because we really talked about the content in detail, it was a worthwhile experience for us. We enjoy reviewing things, such as movies and music and books, and consider the exercise of picking something apart detail by detail a fun way to practice skills such as comparing and contrasting, debating, making inferences and predictions, and drawing conclusions. As a result, we had fun analyzing the characters, listing both positives and negatives of the film, and figuring out what lessons each person was likely to learn, then comparing our hypotheses to what actually happened.

The film is a story about a teacher/wife/mother who is self-absorbed and rather clueless and uncaring about those around her, including her own family. Events happen and she is put into a situation where she spends time “walking” in the shoes of another mother whose husband has been killed in Iraq, is running ragged trying to support her family, and has two children who are struggling as they fall farther behind in their schoolwork because of the stressful situation at home (it’s kind of like A Christmas Carol meets Freaky Friday meets Touched by an Angel). Over the course of the movie, this teacher begins to learn to take the focus off of herself and to really pay attention to and listen to others, and that by doing so, she actually gains something, rather than loses it. The movie resolves well, with things returning to the way they ought to be, but with the teacher having learned a lesson which she takes with her to apply to her new, more aware (and less self-centered) reality.

In my book, since the movie ends “right” (with a lesson learned and a happy ending), I liked it. Tex enjoyed the discussions we had during and after the movie, and he thought that while the storyline was a bit predictable, it was decent. It wasn’t earth-shaking in its presentation or performances, but it was enjoyable for the end of a long, tiring day when we really just wanted to do something quiet to lay around and relax before bed time. I felt it was worthwhile since we did it TOGETHER, which I feel is the whole point of the Family Movie Night initiative NBC is attempting to re-start.

For those who are very conservative, I will tell you that I wasn’t thrilled with the soundtrack. Let’s just say it was LOUD. Even Tex, who listens to Contemporary Christian bands like TobyMac (not my favorite, but Hubby likes them, too), thought it was a bit over the top. Mostly, the music is as a background for some skateboarding scenes. The music pops up about three or four times as I recall. You could always mute this out. Another thing was something I noticed (and disliked), then was pleased when Tex pointed it out as a negative aspect himself. One of the boys in the movie is disrespectful to the woman he thinks is his mother (but is actually the teacher in her place)…he is impatient and flip with her in a way I would not allow in my house, and I would hope my boys (or girls) would never talk to an adult, or to each other that way. It’s not that he cursed or was overtly nasty in an angry fashion, but the way he treated her was more like how you’d talk to another kid, and not one you particularly respected (typical of today’s secular television attitudes, especially in sitcoms). Since Tex noticed this poor attitude on his own, and we talked about it, it wasn’t a problem for us, but I do prefer to watch movies where the kids are consistently kind and respectful to each other and to adults. The child in question was better in a few other scenes. Lastly, there is a character whom you get the impression is supernatural in nature, more towards the angelic end of the spectrum than anything else. She is nice, and strangely enthusiastic and peppy (she dances and sings in one scene, which we didn’t quite get the point of). She is the one who facilitates the events that occur, and by the end of the movie you get the impression that perhaps this movie is a lead-in to a potential series or at least a sequel, with her as the continuing character. There is nothing occultish about any of it…it’s more like an angelic intervention.

The movie taught several very clear lessons:

1. Don’t judge someone else’s situation until you have walked a mile in their shoes (or at least tried to understand it),
2. Don’t get so caught up in yourself that you fail to see the needs of others,
3. AND as one character says at the end,  “It’s funny how when you help someone else, you heal your own wounds.”

There was one very clear mention of God and faith, and it was a positive one. I will try to share the brief conversation as accurately as I can recall. One character (a child) asked the other (an adult), “Do you believe in God?” The adult answered, “Yeah.” The child commented, “I just don’t get it. Where was he when my dad died?” The adult answered, “Right there beside him.” I felt that was a great answer.

I would recommend supporting this movie for several reasons: First, it is a good idea to support family-friendly initiatives whenever we can. If was are too judgmental and particular about things, we will never make any inroads into improving the general culture, and improvements definitely need to be made. I do not mean we should compromise our values for the sake of making a difference, but that we should choose our battles and be glad for small steps when they come. Second, it does make for a good discussion of culture, behavior, choices, etc. with older children. I liked that the oldest son (the son of the mother who was working so hard) was working after school to help pay the bills. What a novel idea in today’s general society! Also, the man who becomes their neighbor reaches out and helps the family through some troubled times (and there is no romantic involvement in it for him, either). It is a good demonstration of “loving your neighbor.” I would probably not have my younger children watch it (for more conservative viewers) due to the music and the occasional disrespect shown by a few of the characters, but I do not think that watching it with ages nine or ten and up would be a problem. Children this age are mature enough to spot poor attitudes when they see them, and to draw correct conclusions about them. Lastly, it IS a great idea to spend time together with your family, and after a busy day, watching and discussing a movie with a big bowl of popcorn to share sounds like a fun thing to do on a chilly December night...

A Walk in My Shoes will be showing on NBC on Friday, December 3rd, at 8 pm EST/ 7 pm CST. Thanks to Walmart and P&G products for supporting this Family Movie Night initiative.

You can watch the movie trailer HERE. You can see a synopsis of the movie and request a FB event reminder for the movie showing HERE. You can find out more about the Family Movie Night initiative HERE. Don’t forget to spread the word, so they will continue to bring more family-friendly movies to prime time TV. Thanks.

Blessings,

Heather

Family Movie Night

One tradition our family really enjoys is that of family movie night. Each week, I either make or order a pizza or two, and we all snuggle in and watch a movie together, usually on Fridays, Lately, it is a movie from Netflix, via disk in the mail or instant download. Sometimes, though rarely, we do find something to watch on the television…I say rarely, because it is hard to find suitable family-oriented material on network tv these days. Actually, it got so bad that about six months ago we canceled our cable subscription and went entirely to Netflix and dvds only (with mom sneaking in an occasional viewing of a favorite program on Hulu after the kids are in bed). I mean, even IF you could find something you all wanted to watch, the commercials were so bad that you had to send the kids out of the room while they ran, or tell them to close their eyes and go, “Lalalalalalala!” the entire time. You’ve got to wonder what they are thinking when they run those horror film commercials during a children’s program, or the lingerie ones during a supposedly “family-oriented” series. Obviously, as I think we are all aware, the morals of Hollywood do NOT generally line up with those of conservative families.



However, earlier this week, I received an email saying that NBC is re-instituting their Family Movie Night series on Friday nights. Now, to me, that seems like a step in a positive direction. First of all,, it encourages families to do something TOGETHER instead of each person doing something different in  different rooms of their houses, like planets with divergent orbits. Secondly, they are attempting to step up to the plate and start showing titles that are suitable for the ENTIRE family, so that when the families do this activity together, they are not compromising their values to do so. I think this is a phenomenal idea. Yes, I agree that folks can do what we did and get rid of their cable subscription, and maybe even their televisions, and this will solve the problem, too. But let’s face it, a lot of folks are NOT going to do that. Television is here to stay.



Thus, the next best thing, in my mind, is to work on improving the quality of what is offered on the networks, whether we tend to watch it regularly or not. Why would we want to do this? Because improving the mores of society benefits us by helping others, one family at a time. If other families have the opportunity to view programming that draws them closer together, encourages them think about the importance of making wise choices, and shows examples of positive interactions with other people (instead of the constant ridiculing and harassing you see in most “comedies” these days, or the hate and violence of most police shows, or the occult and sexual undertones of many others), then that is a really good thing. Think of the excellent dialogues that could potentially happen in households all over the country, and the positive influences of just a few young people who see something better and decide they would like to work towards THAT instead of the mediocrity and the “make myself happy to the exclusion of all else” attitude found in so many shows that are popular today. I just LOVE this idea of a Family Movie Night on network television. I truly am hopeful that it is a step in the right direction…



But, to make this happen, they need support. If people do not watch the family-friendly movies and make it very clear that they are excited about them, they will not last long. Television is about making money and the sponsors need to know that their investment is going to pay off. So here is what we have to do…we have to support this initiative and make our approval of it known. A strong showing of support by viewers like you and me will send the message that we, the viewers, want MORE family-friendly shows (and advertisers), and maybe, just maybe, we can help turn the tide in a small way, one time-slot at a time. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that choosing to not watch one show is no big deal…every “vote” counts, and you HAVE to start somewhere.



I have seen the trailer to the movie, and it looks like this is a worthwhile place to start. Imagine how much happier families will be after they spend some time together on the couch, eating popcorn, and talking about what they are watching (and finding it has a redeeming message)? I know it sounds like such a small thing, but I distinctly remember times when we first started Family Movie Night at our house and Bubba would complain that the movies were too “babyish” for him, yet by the end of the film, he’d be laughing (or sniffling, when appropriate) just like the rest of us. Those are memories I treasure, and I truly believe that our time together and our discussions made a positive difference in our relationships (and continue to do so).



Check out the trailer HERE.



Here’s what you can do to help support this budding initiative:

1. Watch the movie trailer HERE. I think you will find it interesting.
2. You can find a synopsis of the movie HERE. You can request a FB event reminder on this page, as well. You can also find more about the Family Movie Night initiative HERE.
3. Make note of the movie, A Walk in My Shoes, on your calendar for Friday, December 3rd at 8 pm EST/7 pm CST and WATCH IT!
4. Tell your friends and other family members about this movie and encourage them to watch it. You can give them the link to my blog so they, too, can watch the trailer and get excited about it, too.
5. Announce the movie using your Twitter and Facebook accounts (for example: FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT airs on NBC, Friday, Dec. 3; 8pm EST) and even blog about it, like I am. Spread the word!
6. “Like” the group Family Movie Night on Facebook. You can also watch a brief preview video on FB HERE.
7. Encourage your friends (and yourself) to comment about the movie, and its sponsors, on the FB page. Let them know what you liked and how you appreciated the move towards more family-friendly programming. Let them know if you review the movie on your blog, too.
8. Plan a fun (and simple) meal for Friday, December 3rd, (like pizza or nachos), stock up on popcorn and your family’s favorite snacks and drinks, and prepare to have a memorable experience…together. Moms and dads, don’t miss the chance to discuss the show and what it teaches. It looks like it will be a good learning opportunity.

I am really hoping that this movie will live up to the promise of the preview I have seen. If I get an opportunity to view the movie early, I will certainly review it here and let you know all about it ASAP. In the meantime, I remain hopeful and excited, not so much for us (since we already do Family Movie Night) as for other families that this might open a door to better relationships, values, and happy memories for them. Let’s all pray that something like this can truly be a step in a good direction…every little bit helps.

Blessings to you all for a happy, healthy, and DELICIOUS Thanksgiving. I pray this holiday finds you safe in the arms of your loved ones, and if you are apart, I pray that you know your are missed and will soon find yourself home again.

Heather