In “Crazy Fun Back to School Celebrations,” Episode #237, Meredith Curtis encourages homeschool families and teens to plan something special for the first day of school. And it doesn’t have to be Mom who plans; teens have great ideas, too. This podcast gives a plethora of ideas from food and nature to silly projects and educational fun. This podcast will make you smile and probably give you some creative ideas of your own.

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Let me take you back in time to 1990. My first & only first-day-of-homeschool photo

Special Breakfasts at Home

Make-Your-Own Breakfast Pizzas

Favorite Restaurant

Nature Fun – picnics, hikes, playgrounds, beach

Creation to Jesus’ Return Timeline

Treasure Hunt to Find Schoolbooks

Plane Trip to Heathrow & Tel Aviv

To kick off our geography co-op, we set up our living room as an airport gate, the dining room as security, and the family room as an airport. We made passports and plane tickets, using them to travel to London and Tel Aviv. It was a blast! (you can read more in Travel God’s World Geography – a yearlong course.)

Turn Christmas Carols into Homeschool Songs

Family Vaudeville Show

Learn more about the vaudeville show in HIS Story of the 20 Century.

School Color Photos

Theme Photos

Crazy Outfit Pictures

Tag me!

Be sure to post them and tag me! 

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In “Weather Modification I: What is Cloud Seeding?” Episode, #236, Meredith Curtis introduces weather modification, a topic that has implications for you and your future! Cloud Seeding was first tried in 1946 and has been sanctioned by the government since the 1970s. How does it work? What are the benefits? What are the complications? This topic makes for a lively family dinner table discussion.

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Cloud seeding impacts a large number of people, yet it is seldom discussed. So, let’s talk about it, starting with the basics.

Airplanes release a seeding agent into sub-cloud updrafts or drop the seeding agents directly into the upper regions of the clouds. This seeding agent acts as a condensation nuclei.

“Chinese scientists recently announced the results of a weather modification experiment conducted in the arid western region of Xinjiang. Using a fleet of cloud-seeding drones, the team reportedly increased rainfall by more than 4 percent across an area of more than 3,000 square miles (8,000 square kilometers) in a single day. According to the researchers, just 1 kilogram of silver iodide generated more than 70,000 cubic meters of additional precipitation, enough to fill 30 Olympic-sized swimming pools.” (Graceffo, Antonio, “The CCP’s Weather Modification Ambitions” https://www.theepochtimes.com/opinion/the-ccps-weather-modification-ambitions-5883068 7/13/2025. Accessed 7/19/2025.)

Cloud seeding can increase rainfall, prevent rain, or disperse fog. So, let’s do a quick review of why it rains.

Remember the water cycle? Water evaporates and rises in the air. As it rises, it cools and condenses into ice crystals. A condensation nuclei is needed for the water to condense. This might be dust, smoke, or salt particles.

In 1946, Vincent J. Schaefer used dry ice (solid carbon dioxide CO2) into clouds. This created snow.

Later that same year, Bernard Vonnegut used silver iodine (Ag1) could be used for cloud seeding.

Other known seeding agents:

Dubai uses Titanium for cloud seeding.

By adding condensation nuclei to clouds, cloud seeding manipulates the structure of clouds. This causes the water crystals to fall to the earth as rain.

Drones, rockets, and special airplanes are all used to shoot the particulates into the clouds. Canons and generators can also shoot condensation nuclei into the atmosphere, hoping it will find a cloud or targeting clouds specifically.

Experiments began and continued in 1946.

USA

United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Started in the 1990s. Cloud Seeding Missions: 187 (2014), 214 (2017), 184 (2018), 247 (2019). Research, prizes, and government involvement to pursue excellence.

Dubai

More recently, Dubai has followed UAE’s example and used cloud seeding to combat water scarcity.

India

India has experimented with cloud seeding since the 1980s especially during droughts. However, many Indians object to cloud seeding because of its effectiveness and environmental impact.

Indonesia

Indonesia uses cloud seeding to prevent flooding. Indonesia used cloud seeding to fight a fire-related haze in 2015 and to reduce flooding in Jakarta in 2013.

China

China is the leader in weather modification and uses cloud seeding in all kinds of ways, even to make sure clear skies are there for important political events.

The main reason to use cloud seeding is to produce more rain. This can improve crop productivity, increase vegetation cover in an area, and help farmers.

Cloud seeding can modify weather, reduce the size of hailstones, and prevent the formation of fog. Cloud seeding brings relief to places with drought. It can make arid places more suitable for living.

Does Cloud Seeding have Negative Potential?

Cloud seeding harms the environment with the chemical compounds it uses. It is very expensive. Cloud seeding can harm people and animals. For example, silver iodide can impact human health negatively.

Cloud seeding needs clouds. No clouds. No cloud seeding. Flooding is probably the biggest negative of cloud seeding and is a big problem in China and UAE.

The Creation Mandate. We are called to fill and subdue the earth.

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In “Teen Summer Book Club,” Episode, #235, Meredith Curtis has a challenge for teens before summer ends: have a summer book club with friends and/or family. Just choose and read a book for pure enjoyment! Make it more exciting by discussing it with friends while you eat yummy food! Reading excellent literature for fun works out your brain, stretches your vocabulary, increases your attention span, cultivates compassion, and builds character. Plus when you read for fun, you release endorphins and add joy to life!

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“I read that book with a flashlight under the covers so I wouldn’t wake my sister!”

“I figured out who did it.”

“I thought I figured out who did it, but the ending shocked me!”

One summer in high school when boredom was encroaching, I made a list of classics I’d never read.

How about you?

Are there books that interest you, but you’ve never read them?

Maybe childhood classics your friends talk about.

Do you have friends or family members who feel the same way?

Why not choose 1 book that everyone reads. Set a date and plan a book club. You could meet when everyone finishes the book or meet a couple times during the reading (after chapter 10 and after chapter 15).

So, how do you get the discussion going?

I start every book club with this question, “Did you like the book? Why or why not?” This often starts lively discussions because people have different opinions about the same book.

Another one of my favorite questions is “Was the ending satisfying?”  So many times we have ended up with folks sharing a new ending and others standing firm that the original ending is the best! It’s such fun when the discussion gets lively!

Here are some things I like to cover in book clubs:

I don’t try to cover all of those topics in each book club. I will usually keep the discussion going by asking the questions, “What did you like about this character?” followed up by, “Why?” Then I will ask the kids who they didn’t like and why.

Rabbit trails are the best part of book clubs.

Books can be like treasured friends because people and events remind us of our life. Or there are characters we’d love to be friends with or adventures we’d love to experience.

One time we were talking about our favorite characters in Little Women and we realized that most of us chose the character that we related to because we had similar personalities. This led to a whole discussion about personalities.

Historical fiction is fun because it make a time in the past come alive. This can lead to discussions on food, sanitation, transportation, fashion, customs, religion, etc.

Differing opinions is an important part of life. In America, we value freedom of speech. However, free speech doesn’t mean being crass, ugly, or rude. We share our opinions politely and we respect people’s opinions that are different from us. The exception is that the Bible has the final say.

The Blessings of Book Clubs

If you enjoy reading a book and discussing it with friends and/or family, you might ask to add book clubs to your English (Language Arts) classes.

We started a book club years ago when we were reading a challenging book in our homeschool co-op. We had so much fun and we realized that we learned so much more from literature and good books when we discussed them together.

As we discussed the elements of literature (plot, setting, characters, theme, point-of-view, voice) in a natural way, these things became easier and easier to understand and talk about. My teens loved discussing foreshadowing because it was like solving a mystery.  Symbolism was another fun topic because everyone brings a fresh perspective.

Yes, we loved sitting in comfortable chairs to talk about books and eat cookies, but we began to enjoy literature at a deeper level. Book clubs have enriched my children’s education and enjoyment of literature! All our English courses offer book clubs.

What Shall I Read?

Check our reading lists for every age imaginable:

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In “Fourth of July Liberty & Responsibility,” episode #234 for teens and homeschool parents, Meredith Curtis reminds us of the freedoms we celebrate on our nation’s birthday. Personal liberty comes with authority and responsibility alongside accountability to God. Families have freedom with accountability, too. And what about church and state? Dive into a refreshing look at what makes the United States of America exceptional.

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How do you spend Fourth of July? We’re going to visit our son and his family this year.

Fourth of July is a wonderful time to explore the freedoms that we have grown up with and take for granted. Personal liberty, freedom of speech, the right to trial by jury of your peers, and accountability of leaders to their citizens are things that many people throughout history have been denied. Where did freedom begin? Did it start with the Magna Charta? Or did it start even further back?

According to Samuel Rutherford, in his book, Lex Rex (Law is King), written in the 1600’s by a Presbyterian pastor, the Bible makes it clear that the law is king. Rutherford took an in-depth look at Scripture and history to prove this, shattering the popular philosophy of the “divine right of kings” to rule as they please.

Everyone is equal under the law. Reformation & the Divine Right of Kings.

Our political rights and freedoms go all the way back to the Bible, the source of our rights and responsibilities. In the Garden, Adam and Eve had autonomy.

God has all authority & He delegated that authority to individuals, family, church, and state.

Freedom of thought, speech, decision-making, writing. Freedom to own property, start a business, succeed, fail, fall in love, get married, stay single, follow God, not follow God, care for the poor.

God delegates authority & responsibility along with that freedom.  What is the responsibility of man? To follow the Lord, to honor him, walk in His ways.

Accountability for actions, behavior, and fulfillment of responsibilities.

Galatians 5 tells us how to handle our freedom in Christ.

Families are free to choose educational method for teaching children, how they raise their children, where they live, and who can part of their lives.

God delegates authority & responsibility along with that freedom.  What is the responsibility of family? To follow the Lord, to honor him, walk in His ways, to provide, protect, teach, raise children, clothe members, care for the poor, and care for sick & elderly.

Accountability for actions, behavior, and fulfillment of responsibilities.

Churches have freedom from God to assemble, preach the Word, teach their doctrine, preach the Gospel, worship, administer church discipline, choose leaders, choose leadership style, care for the poor, and mentor members.

God delegates authority & responsibility along with that freedom.  What is the responsibility of church? See above freedoms

Accountability for actions, behavior, and fulfillment of responsibilities.

Government has freedom to make laws and enforce them, protect the nation militarily, provide fair trial, protect individual & family & church freedoms.

God delegates authority & responsibility along with that freedom.  Accountability for actions, behavior, and fulfillment of responsibilities.

What is the responsibility of elected officials in USA (based on our form of government – Constitutional Republic)? To obey the Constitution, obey the law, lead with integrity, personal integrity, keep campaign promises, NOT take bribes.

What is the responsibility of citizens in USA (based on our form of government – Constitutional Republic)? Understand issues that face the nation, vote responsibly, walk in integrity, remove bad leaders from office, put good leaders in.

What can you do to protect freedom in our beloved nation?

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Summer Job Applications & Interviews

In “Summer Jobs Applications & Interviews,” episode #233, Meredith Curtis gives teens wanting to grab a summer job some practical advice for the job application and interview. Learn to put your best foot forward with confidence. Mae Smith, a talent acquisition specialist, joins her to give the interviewer’s perspective.

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Homeschooled teens often grab a summer job during the family break. If you are planning a summer job, put your best foot forward in the application process and the interview!

When you wade through applications, what stands out to you?

What communicates to you that the applicant will be who you are looking for?

Share some interviews that did not impress you.

Share some interviews that were impressive.

Common Questions Interviewers Ask

Do you have any more tips for getting hired?

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In “Computer Skills for Children,” Episode #232, Laura Nolette comes out of the background at the Finish Well Podcast to talk to you about an important life skill for your children. Computer skills are life skills. Computers are everywhere and our children are fascinated by all the flashing lights and fun sounds. They usually don’t realize how useful computer are. Let’s talk about working with children as young as 5-years-old to teach them actual computer skills.

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Ask most children, “what is a computer for,” and they’ll probably talk about games or watching movies.

Keyboard

Mouse

Monitor

Printers

Cameras

Memory vs. Storage

Everything is made up of files

A marble in a bag in a bag in a bag …

Writing

Saving

Printing

Stay Aware

Stay Safe

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In “God’s Promises for Homeschool Moms,” Episode, #231, Meredith Curtis invites you to grab hold of the Promises of God for your situations so you can get out of survival mode to rule and reign in Christ. Whether you are needing wisdom, feeling overwhelmed, struggling with guilt, or simply exhausted, there is assurance for you that the Lord is with you and will provide for you in each and every situation.

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Do you want to get out of survival mode? Stop feeling overwhelmed? A bubble bath won’t cut it. You need the promises of God!

Away all night with sick children or nursing baby. Juggling so many different hats that you can’t keep them straight? Weary from your children squabbling all day?

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary. And to him who lacks might He increases power. Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary. (Isaiah 40: 27-31 NASB)

Wondering what curriculum to use? Or how to help your children get along? Want ideas on how to keep the flame from dying out in your marriage? What vaccines to give your children?

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. (James 1:5 NASB)

We all go through trials and hard times, but sometimes life hits us curve balls that leave us devastated, unable to go on.

These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NASB)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Or is blameless (Psalm 84:11 NASB)

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.  (Romans 8:28 NASB)

Wondering how you’ll pay the bills this month? Or worried how your son will thrive with Autism? Hoping your teens won’t do the bad things their friends do? Or just worried about the education you are giving your children?

For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB)

And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 NASB)

Have you yelled at your kids and feel awful about it? Do you struggle stay focused and fell guilty later when things are undone? Maybe you still feel ashamed of the abortion you had as a teenager. Guilt and shame come in all sizes but God’s promises cover all sin.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (I John 1:9 NASB)

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103: 12 NASB)

Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. (Romans 8:1-2 NASB)

Merey’s testimony of standing on the promises of God.

Dueteronomy 28 and Isaiah 54.

Are you a believer in Jesus? If not here’s some Good News!

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In “Between Easter & His Ascension,” episode #230, Meredith Curtis walks everyone through what happened during the 40 days after Jesus rose from the dead until He gave the Great Commission & ascended into Heaven. Meredith shares passages to cover and ways to bring it alive for children, teens, and parents.

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Easter is often hectic for Christian families. Church services and special events enrich our faith and family get-togethers fill our joy tank, but they leave little time to dig into God’s Word with our kiddos.

If you weren’t able to go through the Holy Week story in the Gospels last week, do it this week. It’s not too late. If you’ve already done that, this is a great week to teach your children what happened next … after Easter!

Jesus answered Doubting Thomas’ faith Questions – apologetics.

Jesus appears to 2 of his disciples on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35) – Emmaus Walk.

Jesus reinstates Peter (go over the story of Peter’s denial Luke 22:31-34). Jesus makes him breakfast & brings him back John 21:15-21) – Fish Fry.

The Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20 & Mark 16:14-20) & The Plan & Priority of Extending His Kingdom (Acts 1:8) – Suitcase Craft.

Jesus tells them to wait for the Holy Spirit. Prayer & Fasting.

Jesus’ Ascension (Mark 16:19-20 & Luke 24:51-53 & Acts 1:9-11)

Talk about the Power of the Resurrection

Celebrate Easter Devotions starts the Saturday before Psalm Sunday and follows the last week of Jesus’ life step by step. However, these devotions don’t end on Easter Sunday. The following week looks at his post-Resurrection days and final ascension. Be reminded this season of the Resurrection Power of Jesus available to His people today.

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In “Easter Traditions around the World,” episode #229, Meredith Curtis travels the globe to uncover unique and inspirational celebrations in other countries. It’s so fun to learn about people in other places, to see how they rejoice in their faith! You just might want to try some of these traditions with your own family or homeschool co-op.

Bringing Homeschool Joy to Families Everywhere!

Are you ready to travel the world to discover unique and inspirational celebrations in other countries?

Easter is during the fall instead of spring.

In Africa, Easter is celebrated from Maundy Thursday to Easter Sunday. Churches decorated with bright cheerful cloth, butterflies, flowers and more. The music is joyous with drums and dancing.

Celebrate Easter Devotions starts the Saturday before Psalm Sunday and follows the last week of Jesus’ life step by step. However, these devotions don’t end on Easter Sunday. The following week looks at his post-Resurrection days and final ascension. Be reminded this season of the Resurrection Power of Jesus available to His people today.

            Stations of the Cross

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In “Feminist-Free Living,” episode #228, Meredith Curtis celebrates Women’s History Month by taking a fresh look at femininity and feminism. What is the purpose and worldview behind feminism and where does it lead? Does God have a better plan? What is His plan for families? What is his plan for women? Teens and parents, what does this mean for you?

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Let’s celebrate Women’s History Month! We’ll talk about God’s plan for women in the beginning of time and what it looks like today in 2025.

Back to the Garden – Genesis 1 & 2.

Equal but Different

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

What is femininity?

Does feminism liberate women from an oppressive, evil patriarchy?

When I was in college, as a new Christian, I thought about taking some courses in women’s studies but when I noticed the mention of witchcraft, spirit guides, and female goddesses, I was turned away.

Or does feminism strip away the fundamental structures that give us stability, security, and purpose?

If you look back in time, Satan always wants to destroy the church and the family. Who is at the heart of the family?

Does feminism trick women into abandoning their God-given identity to serve a new world order and one of the oldest belief systems in the world?

If mom is not at home, the state can step in and raise our children. Indoctrination.

Women are valuable, worthy of honor, protection, provision, and listening to. Treat all women like ladies. Open doors, pay on a date, notice how they make your life better and thank them.

Be the man God called you to be. Lead, provide, protect, serve.

Encourage men to be knights in shining armor with your respect, kindness, and example.

Be the woman God called you to be.

God’s ways are best. Seek His face. Live for Him. You will not be sorry.

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