Finish Well

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In “Our Founding Mothers,” Episode #254, Meredith Curtis introduces you to 6 Founding Mothers who raised children while they invented a dye, helped write documents, fought in a battle, rescued priceless artifacts from a fire, fought with words, and stood strong beside their husbands. All of them impacted the leaders of the day and made their own marks. Each fought the American Revolution in their own way and helped bring about our amazing USA.

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If you asked me to create a Hall of Fame for American Revolution heroes, I would start with my favorite Founding Fathers and Founding Mothers. I’m so proud of my American heritage and all our American history heroes!

Abigail Smith Adams (1744-1818) was the first Second Lady and the second First Lady. Brilliant, she advised her husband throughout his prestigious career while being a devoted wife and mother throughout her life. She often took other children under her wing.

Martha Dandridge Custis Washington (1789-1802) was thrust into the world of politics and served her nation as the first First Lady of the brand-new United States.

Elizabeth (Eliza) Lucas Pinckney (1722-1793) developed indigo as an important crop in colonial South Carolina. She was also the mother of Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, a signer of the Constitution and Thomas Pinckney, who negotiated Pinckney’s Treaty in 1795. She turned the indigo plant into a cash crop.

Mary Ludwig Hays (1744-1832) fought in the Battle of Monmouth in the American Revolution. She is considered by many historians to be the famous Molly Pitcher.

Elizabeth ‘Eliza’ Schuyler Hamilton (1757-1854) grew up with a deep devotion to Jesus Christ. After the war, she helped Alexander with his political writings, many of which are in her handwriting.

Dolley was born into a devout Quaker family and was raised on a plantation in Virginia. After the War of Independence, her family freed their slaves. When her husband, James Madison, became Secretary of State and later President, Dolley took Washington, D.C. by storm as a charming hostess, engaging friend, and witty conversationalist.

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In “US Habits Keeping Freedom Alive,” episode #253, Meredith Curtis continues celebrating America’s 250th Birthday by uncovering American habits that preserve individual and national freedom. Faith & Family; Hard Work; Community Service; Rule of Law; and Safety keep the lights of liberty burning brightly. Let’s unpack these traditions so you can build on them in your own life today and in the future. God bless the USA.

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America is different from other nations – first to be governed by a written constitution, friendly people, a wealthy nation, values freedom, and is independent.

Faith and family work together to strengthen one another.

Faith gives our lives meaning and purpose. Salvation.

George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards. Great Awakening. Revival. Transformation & Unity.

Democracy in America: America is great because Americans are good. Author talked about their virtuous lifestyles, which included attending church, loving their neighbor, and having strong families.

Marriage and family, created by God in the Garden, provide love and security. Strong families mean a strong society. Weak, broken families lead to a broken-down society filled with crime and cruelty.

How can we revive this American tradition of faith and family?

Story: Paula

America’s heroes and heroines are hard workers.

Hard work is a virtue, respected in the USA. Giving free stuff to able-bodied men and women who can work brings harm to them and to our country. It entices lazy people to come here and get welfare. Hard work is not a punishment; it is a blessing.

How can we revive the American tradition of hard work?

Story: Bob

Philanthropy and charity are an American way of life.

How can we revive the American tradition of community service?

Story: Anna

When God set up the nation of Israel, he gave them laws—many give with punishments for breaking them.

In the US, we have are ruled by a Constitution, our overarching law.

Thanks to the Bible and British Common Law, we enjoy many rights and privileges in relation to law and justice–trial by jury, face our accusers, just cause and warrant for searching our person or property, defend ourselves in court, and punishment cannot be cruel or unusual; it must fit the crime.

Elected officials must take an oath to defend the Constitution and the people they serve. Elected officials are accountable under the law.

How do we revive the American tradition of the rule of law?

Story: Matt

For Americans to be safe, those who break the law must be punished, regardless of social status, wealth, or power. Peace and safety require vigilance and military readiness. Prepare for war with a strong defense in place, yet seek to avoid it through diplomatic channels.

Barbary Pirates

How do we revive the American tradition of safety?

Story: Brandon.

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In “US Navy Life,” episode #252, Meredith Curtis and Laura Nolette continue celebrating America’s 250 Birthday celebration by taking a close look at one military family with gratitude for all our men and women in uniform and their families. We’re looking back over Laura’s father Lew’s navy career. Of course, Lew’s naval service involved his wife and children. The whole family, like other military families, had their share of blessing and challenges. As men and women in America choose to serve in the US military, the whole family is impacted. Thank you to all men and women in uniform and their precious families.  God bless the USA.

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Intro: Merey talk about Lew.

Lew’s childhood dream. Appointment to Naval Academy.

Flight school in Pensacola, FL; Norfolk, VA (Spike born); Iceland (Laura born); Corpus Christie, TX; Virginia -Vietnam

Vietnam War on USS America – Flight Deck Officer & pilot, accident & miracle

Ranks, Commander Squadron, Masters Aeronautical engineering – thesis

XO Ship – Joined right after Grenada, Lebanon, Carried Marines, Pink Bicycle Story

Father of the NEST program, caring for elderly parents

What was life like for your mom?

High school sweethearts, committed to Lew’s career, political relationships, entertaining, Navy Relief

Challenges – teaching when you move so often, running things when Dad’s gone but what happens when he comes home?

What was the blessing of being a Navy child?

Blessings: saw America: ME, TX, CA, FL, road trips, attractions, proud to be part of a military family

Challenges: father gone six months a year, moved a lot, new school every 6 months, always the new kid. Family members didn’t always understand

Navy life cultivated patriotism in her life. Growing up on Navy bases. To her, the noisy jets overhead was the sound of freedom.

US Navy Families

When Dad or Mom serves, the whole family serves. Prayer for our US Military Families.

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In “Will the Real Father of Education Please Stand Up,” episode #251, Meredith Curtis continues celebrating America’s 250 Birthday celebration by looking back at American education from colonial times until today and the man who founded it. But wait. Is it Noah Webster or Horace Mann? What contributions did both men make? What is their fruit? How should we move forward in American education?  God bless the USA.

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Education in 2026. Homeschooling. AI. Public schools. Literacy. IQ.

Greek Education. An educated person is curious, always learning and appreciates beauty in philosophy, art, and nature.

Roman Education. Trivium: grammar, logic or dialectic, and rhetoric (speaking, debating). An educated person can lead people and persuade others to his point of view.

Judeo Christian (Bible) Education. Acquire knowledge from a Biblical Worldview and apply it to life. An educated person is wise and good.

Noah Webster, a devoted Christian, created America’s first dictionary, along with textbooks, and a Bible translation. An American Revolution soldier, state legislator, and education activist, Noah believed in American exceptionalism and the centricity of the Bible.

Noah Webster’s Legacy: Education focused on God’s Word and unashamed to teach about American Exceptionalism is Noah Webster’s legacy to America. His goal in education was to raise generations who would fear the Lord, think independently, and protect God-given freedoms. He believed that education was the responsibility of parents who should hire/fire teachers and choose the school’s curriculum.

Horace Mann spearheaded the transition of education being in the hands of parents to the arms of government.  Grew up in a Bible-believing church, but at fourteen, his brother drowned, filling Horace with bitterness against God. From then on, he rejected Jesus. He saw the Bible as a moral guidebook to create good citizens. Horace was inspired by Prussian education.

The Prussian (now Germany) education system produced obedient citizens for Prussia and obedient soldiers for the Prussian Army. Citizens who thought alike on most issues which led to national uniformity in thought, word, and deed.

Noah Webster wanted to instill a love of American freedom into the hearts of the children. He wanted to see a nation that honored and served the Lord. Noah knew that glorifying God is true success.

Horace loved a philosophy that emphasized man over God. He believed that his system of education would raise up generations of “useful citizens.”

Which one do you think is the Father of Education?

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. (Proverbs 1:7)

All Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (II Timothy 3:16-17)

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the fear and instruction of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4)

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding (Proverbs 9:10)

Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance (Proverbs 1:5)

Bible & Classic Literature & Works- Home Libraries

7 R’s – Relationships, Reading, Rhetoric, wRiting, aRithmetic, Research, Right Living

Hard Work, Routines, Patterns of Living

Creation, Value of Human Life, Original Sin

Most Homeschool Curriculum is produced by secular companies. Purchase from Christian companies: Notgrass, Apologia, Master Books, Heart of Dakota, Powerline Productions.

Even though Mann’s philosophy has taken over the government run school system, we are still blessed in America with freedom! We have freedom to send our children to private schools or even better, to educate them at home. At home, we can use the Bible as our foundation, teach American Exceptionalism, and raise our children to value liberty! What a glorious privilege to homeschool! What an opportunity to pass on the baton of faith and freedom to the next generation!

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The post Will the Real Father of American Education Please Stand Up? appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.

🌿 This episode is proudly sponsored by Eden’s Table — a Christ-centered herbalism curriculum for K-5 homeschool families. One plant a week, woven through Bible, science, history, art, and Latin.

Try a free week →

In “The Bible and the American Revolution,” episode #250, Meredith Curtis continues celebrating America’s 250 Birthday celebration with a look at the Bible’s influence on the Founding Fathers. Did the Bible really shape the culture of Colonial America & the American Revolution? Did the Founding Fathers read and understand the Scripture? What passages did they quote the most? Discover the role God’s Word played in our Founding Father’s lives and the documents they wrote. God bless the USA.

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The Bible & me.

George Washington identified the Bible among the significant contributions to the American experience.

There was broad agreement that the Bible was essential for nurturing the kind of civic virtues that give citizens the capacity for self-government. In various meetings, pamphlets, political sermons, and private papers, Founding Figures appealed to the Bible for principles, precedents, models, normative standards, and cultural motifs, to define their community and to order their great political experiments.

The Bible offered guidance on how to select righteous leaders and rights and responsibilities of citizenship, including the right to resist a tyrannical government.

“Donald Lutz author of American Political Science Review,  wanted to know who it was that Founding Fathers were citing in political literature before and during the American Revolution. He discovered that the Bible was cited more frequently than any European writer or European school of thought, such as Enlightenment liberalism. The Bible, Lutz reported, accounted for approximately one-third of the citations in the literature he surveyed. The book of Deuteronomy alone was the most frequently cited work, followed by Montesquieu’s The Spirit of the Laws. In fact, Deuteronomy was referenced nearly twice as often as John Locke’s writings, and the apostle Paul was mentioned about as frequently as Montesquieu and Blackstone, who would have been the two most-cited secular theorists.” (Daniel Dreisbach, “The Bible and the American Founders”, Broadcast Talks, August 1, 2018; Accessed 3/1/26)

Deuteronomy – God’s dealings with His chosen nation, Israel, – establishing the political and legal institutions necessary to govern a nation. The Founding Fathers saw Deuteronomy as a guide on how to put a nation together.

The Founding Fathers could identify with the children of Israel fleeing from Pharaoh. They were fleeing form George III. Crossing the Atlantic Ocean was like crossing the Red Sea.

Quoted & Referenced familiar and obscure passages from Scripture. Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty.”

If a family owned a single book it was almost certainly going to be the Bible. So, this was the one book that Americans would be most familiar with. If they owned two….

Culture. Education System. Corruption. Fraud. Bribery.

Read & Study the Word, Bible-Believing Church, Pray for Revival in USA, Talk & Post about our Christian Heritage

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In “Teens on the Pony Express,” episode #249, Meredith Curtis continues celebrating America’s 250 Birthday celebration with the Pony Express. Grab the entire family and meet 15-year-old Bill who discovers a Job Poster. Wanted: Riders for the Pony Express. Young Skinny Wiry Fellows. Riders willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred. Wages $25 per week. If you’re a teen, would you apply? If you’re a parent, would you let your teen apply. The Pony Express captured the imagination of the American people and still does. Teens can do anything. God bless the USA.

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Pretend you’re job hunting and see a poster at Chick-fil-A. Interested?

I want to take you back in time to Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming. A teenager is in the US Post Office in the fort when he sees a poster. The poster reads:

Wanted:

Riders for the Pony Express

Young, Skinny Wiry Fellows

Riders Willing to Risk Death Daily

Orphans Preferred

Wages $25 per Week

The Interview

Hard to get mail from East to West and back again.

Solutions.

A new solution.

Stations, Station Masters, Ponies, Riders

Kickoff April 3, 1960

Bill’s Home Station

Bullets Whizzing

Riding On

Wolves

Buffalo Bill Cody

Teens can do anything God calls them to do.

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In “Undercover Superheroes of the American Revolution,” episode #248, Meredith Curtis continues celebrating America’s 250 Birthday celebration by introducing you to the Undercover Superheroes of the American Revolution. We’re talking about the Son’s of Liberty, of course. Mostly young husbands and fathers, there were some older men, too. They did crazy things like throw tea into Charleston’s and Boston’s harbor. God bless the USA.

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USA is 250 years old. It’s a great time to remember the heroes of the American Revolution.

The Sons of Liberty was a secret society whose aim was to spread American Revolution fervor and to fight unjust laws imposed by the British. It started in Boston. Paul Revere is believed to be the leader. But it spread! Using resistance, defiance, and sometimes violence, the Sons of Liberty impacted the colonies and won colonists to the Patriot Cause. Many of the Sons of Liberty attended the First and Second Continental Congresses, working for freedom that way, too.

Malt Maker & Tax Collector. Founded Sons of Liberty in Boston. Led Boston Tea Party. Later, Governor of Virginia.

Wealthy merchant, ship owner in Boston. He and his ship “Liberty” were sued by British government. Later, Governor of Virginia.

Silversmith and practiced dentistry in Boston. 16 kids Set up a gunpowder mill to produce gunpowder for the Continental Army. Midnight Ride of Paul Revere. Revere Copper still exists today.

Lawyer in Virginia. 17 kids Commander-in-Chief of the Virginian Army during Revolutionary War. Famous “Give Me Liberty or Give me Death” speech accompanied by drama. Governor of Virginia.

Physician, chemistry professor, and prolific writer in Philadelphia. Surgeon General in the Continental Army. Founded Pennsylvania Society for Promoting the Abolition of Slavery and Bible Society of Philadelphia.

Merchant & Rice Plantation owner in South Carolina. Led first “tea party” and two more later.

Cabinet maker in NYC. Aggressive action in NYC. Later, sheriff and mayor of NYC.

Lawyer & sheriff in Connecticut. Turned a 2-ton lead statue of King George III into lead bullets for the Continental Army. Later Governor of Connecticut.

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In “Celebrations & Contests,” episode #247, Meredith Curtis shares all the contests and celebrations she’s uncovered for America’s 250 Birthday celebration all year long. From art and writing contests to special celebrations from American Legion, DAR, and US National Park Service. Take time to celebrate this year – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime birthday! God bless the USA.

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USA is 250 years old. There will be celebrations all year long, but there will also be contests.

SchoolhouseTeachers is celebrating with 250 faith-filled stories from America’s history.

Check it out and enter the challenge here: https://schoolhouseteachers.com/250-days/

National parks across the country are amazing places to visit from Independence Hall and the Statue of Liberty to Yellowstone. There will be special programs and volunteer opportunities, too. For example, you can volunteer as a citizen archivist by transcribing pension records of America’s first veterans and their widows.

Visit here: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/npscelebrates/usa-250.htm

Daughters of the America Revolution has special events going on at state and national levels. On Saturday April 18, 2026, the anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, DAR is hosting two special events: a birthday party and concert.

Find out more here: https://www.dar.org/outreach/america-250

The Iowa State Fair will celebrate the spirit of America with a nod to America’s founding, similar to “The Spirit of Iowa ’76” held during the 1976 national bicentennial.

Visit website here: https://www.iowastatefair.org/visit/iowa-state-fair-americas-250-2026

The Great American State Fair will bring America 250 programming to fairgrounds across the country, culminating in a patriotic festival next summer on the National Mall, featuring exhibits from all 50 states.

Keep watch for details here: https://america250.org/

America’s Field Trip is a nationwide contest that invites students in grades 3–12 to share what America means to them. Writing or original artwork.

Winners earn an unforgettable field trip experience at some of the nation’s most iconic historic and cultural landmarks like Mount Rushmore, the National Archives Museum, Kennedy Space Center, and Yellowstone National Park. A total of 250 students will be awarded a special behind-the-scenes field trip experience this summer or a cash prize.

Here is the page where you submit artwork or essay: https://america250.org/fieldtrip/

Notgrass history is sponsoring a contest for K-12 students. Submit a poem, picture, song, costume, story, or video that celebrates America. Original content required.

Enter the contest here: https://www.usa-250.net/contest

President Trump announced a national athletic competition for top high school athletes as part of the country’s 250th anniversary. The Patriot Games will bring together one male and one female high school athlete from every U.S. state and territory in the fall. We’re awaiting more details. The Patriot Games are part of Freedom 250.

Visit website here: https://www.doi.gov/freedom250

The USA 250 Challenge encourages American Legion Family members, other veterans and all Americans to volunteer with disabled veterans and families in need.

Participants may engage in one, two or all three activities as an individual or as part of a team like an American Legion post, American Legion Auxiliary unit, Sons of The American Legion squadron and/or an American Legion Riders chapter.

Learn more & join the challenge here: https://www.legion.org/get-involved/community-programs/usa250

See How Your State is Celebrating

There is plenty more to come on a national level and state level. Check out your state’s plans and feel free to share with me anything special you discover. What a great year ahead!

Sons of Liberty Mini-Unit

We’ve changed our opt-in-to-our newsletter freebie to celebrate American’s 250th Birthday. US Living Books & Movies List (57 pages) and Sons of Liberty. If you are not getting our newsletter, sign up and grab your freebies. If you already get our newsletter, don’t worry, these new eBooks will be the January and February freebie.

What do you know about the clandestine group that kept their identities secret? These superheroes played a huge role in turning the tide of public opinion. Meet the Sons of Liberty. Some names are familiar, and others will be new to you. Discover Paul Revere, a successful silversmith by day, but at night he might be leading a group to dump tea in Boston Harbor. Enjoy meeting these men and find out how you and your children can be a son or daughter of liberty in the 21st Century.

Read Books & Watch Movies about US History & Heroes 

Reading historical fiction and watching movies set in the past can make history come alive! We’re always adding movies and books to make US History come alive.

What books should I read? What movies should I watch? Homeschool parents often ask me. Wonder no more. I’m sharing ALL the US history living books we read, and ALL the movies, too. Enjoy!

Family or Homeschool Co-op Contest

Have a contest to see who can read the most books (or most pages) of US history books and novels.

Family or Homeschool Co-op Movie Nites

Pop popcorn and watch US History movies together.

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In “Pop the Popcorn & Watch a Christmas Movie,” episode #246, Meredith Curtis suggests Christmas movies for the whole family. At our house, we love to curl up under a blanket and watch a Christmas movie with the whole family. Some are inspirational, others funny, and all wholesome and entertaining. Let’s admit it. We all watch movies – a lot – so choose wisely and spread a little Christmas cheer.

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At our house, we have family favorites that we watch year after year. All are packed with festive holiday cheer and music that makes the troubles of the world seem distant for a short time. As Christmas rolls around again year after year, we find ourselves wanting to see these old favorites once again.

So, pop the popcorn, heat up the hot chocolate, and get ready to hear about some wonderful Christmas movies that the whole family will enjoy!

It’s a Wonderful Life never grows old. It is the timeless story of a man who feels like a failure but is actually a true success! Step back in time and watch George go through high school, college, the Great Depression, World War II, and finally come to a breaking point on Christmas Eve. But, the love of family, friends, and an angel named Clarence pulls him though. I laugh and cry every time I watch this movie.

I grew up on Peanuts cartoons and always felt so sorry for Charlie Brown. In A Charlie Brown Christmas, though, Charlie Brown nails it at the end of the movie when he reads the Christmas story from the Bible. A very sweet movie for all ages!

I love this movie! The Nativity Story is the story of Mary and Joseph as they find out their world has been turned upside down. There is a tenderness to this movie that is so heartening and inspiring. I love the characters of Mary and Joseph. Really well-done movie!

A Christmas Carol is my husband’s favorite movie, and his favorite version is the one with George C. Scott. This classic tale by Charles Dickens has been made into numerous movies, even cartoons. Its timeless message shines through in this version of a “Scrooge” who is converted from selfishness to genuine love for his fellow man.

So many adaptations of this story/movie. The Muppets and Disney have children’s versions. Scrooged is an example of a version for adults.

A Christmas Less Traveled just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite. An old audio cassette left by her father sends a woman on a journey (in his truck of course) to retrace her family’s special moments. On the way, a man joins her to find a way to close the most important deal of his life.

A Christmas … Present is another heartwarming movie that just came out last year. From Great American Family, it has become a favorite because the message is so timely for homeschool moms like me. Real Estate Agent Maggie Larson and her family will be spending Christmas with her recently widowed brother, Paul, and his young daughter at their house. Maggie is determined to give her brother and niece the best Christmas possible and to lift their spirits when they most need it. Though Maggie’s plan is to aid her brother, his faith and parenting style ultimately helps her to understand issues within her own life and a need for closeness in her own family.

Timeless Tidings of Joy just came out this year. Another Christmas classic from Great American Family! A young woman returns home to a letterpress shop, that she considers a burden, and meets a man determined to preserve its legacy. Together they travel back in time and discover that faith, sacrifice, and love are more important than riches and ease. Wow! I loved this movie.

Christmas with the Chosen O Holy Night is another wonderful video from the producers of The Chosen TV series. A young mother labeled impure. A shepherd boy considered “unclean”. A never-before-seen performance from Andrea Bocelli highlights seven music performances and two beautiful monologues.

Elf is a silly movie that tickles our family’s funny bone. We all laugh so hard together when we watch this lighthearted Christmas movie. However, there is a message of family reconciliation and making family time a priority that is always a timeless, and needed, message.

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

A Christmas Story

A Christmas Story is set in the 1950/1960s era of wholesomeness. Raphie wants a Red Ryder BB Gun, but Mom is worried he’ll shoot his eye out. This movie is hilarious, and we have so many lines memorized. We always laugh through the whole fun drama. Great family fun movie!

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

Christmas with the Kranks is a hilarious movie starring Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis. With their daughter doing charity work in South America, the couple plan a cruise for Christmas and opt out of all their usual Christmas traditions. But there must be a twist! Their daughter tells them she is coming home with her brand-new fiancé, so he can experience a traditional American Christmas. The Kranks must get everything ready for their daughter in 24 hours. This is such a funny movie!

The Grinch is played spectacularly by Jim Carey in How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Silly and fun, but with a message. Like many of us, the Who’s go overboard with light contests and excess commercialism but one little girl thinks about the Grinch and reaches out to him. The resulting chaos is predictable especially if you’ve seen the cartoon or read the book but the scene where the Who’s are singing is worth the whole movie. I always tear up. There they are with all their presents gone but they’re singing. If only Jesus was in it! Super cute movie!

Home Alone is another silly movie with a little boy who gets left behind when his parents head to Paris for Christmas. If you have a large family, the chaos will ring true and isn’t every mother’s fear that her child will be left behind. While Mom is hitching a ride with a polka band to get home to her beloved son, the little boy is shopping, cooking, ordering pizza, and defending his home from robbers. Super cute movie!

There is some cursing. We watch with Clearplay or VidAngel

From Hallmark, three brothers who each have their own issues inside and with one another, find themselves forced to care for a baby during the holidays. They rebuild their relationships and rediscover a great blessing of Christmas – love and family. The highlight of this movie is when the three brothers sing. Hilarious!

White Christmas is another vintage movie with a sweet story and beautiful music. The clothes are amazing, too. World War II vets become a famous song-and-dance team and are asked to watch a sister act. The four help out the men’s former commanding officer, Major General Waverly who is in danger of losing his family inn. It is a lovely Christmas in Vermont. This is my daughter Julianna’s pick each year.

There are so many Christmas cartoons that my children enjoyed when they were little, and now my grandchildren watch. They help make the Christmas story come alive in little hearts. Here are my favorites:

Okay, Moms and Teen girls, let’s admit it. We love the romantic comedies. Each of the movies that I’m going to mention has a part that I don’t like but much I do.

You’ve Got Mail always makes me think of my mom and how much I loved being with her, how much I miss her – but I hate the beginning where the hero and heroine are both living with people. Yuck!

While You were Sleeping is such a tender look at family but at times people in the movie are crass. Yuck.

Often these movies lead to discussions about Christmas, traditions, generosity, and what the treasures of life are. 

Christmas is a great time to talk about life and things we value in life like family, traditions, and Jesus! I hope this season will be a blessing for you and your family.

Merry Christmas to all and please share your favorite Christmas movies in the comments below.

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In “A Moravian Christmas,” episode #245, Meredith Curtis introduces listeners to the passionate and joyful Moravians who traveled to the New World to save souls. Their missionary zeal was only matched by their joyful Christmas celebrations. Travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles and John Wesley to Christ and continue to send missionaries around the world.

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The Moravians are a group of Christians filled with missionary zeal, joyful singing, and festive celebrations. Christmastime is the perfect time to meet the Moravians who named Bethlehem, PA because of Jesus’ birthday. So, travel with me back to Colonial Times and meet these amazing people who led Charles & John Wesley to Christ.

Where did the Moravians come from?

Let’s travel back in time to the Middle Ages. While studying at Oxford University, John Wycliffe (1331-1427) discovered that the “True Church” had nothing to do with church membership roles and everything to do with a man’s relationship with the Lord. John began the first translation of the Scriptures into English.

John died peacefully but his writings were discovered in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) by Jan Hus.

Jan Huss (1369-1415) was ordained a priest in 1401 and discovered John Wycliffe’s writings about the truth taught in the Holy Scriptures. He meticulously copied his books and passed them out. Called to a church council to defend his teachings, he was sentenced to death because he would not recant. He died singing praises to God. Though he died, his teachings lived on.

His followers found refuge in Count Zinzendorf’s castle in Saxony, now part of Germany.

Count Nicolaus Zinzendorf (1700-1760) was sent to live with his grandmother, who homeschooled him. As part of the nobility of Saxony, he had to attend a ritzy school called Halle Academy, where he helped form a secret society: the Order of the Grain of Mustard Seed. They committed to use their money, nobility, and influence to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth.

Nicolaus owned a castle with a village inside. One day refugees who were being persecuted for their faith showed up, wanting to live inside his castle in the village. More refugees followed. Nicolaus was able to leave the king’s court and devote himself to his little congregation. He led Bible studies, prayer meetings, worship, and times of accountability. The Moravians were always singing and encouraging one another.

One day, they held a 24-hour prayer meeting. They decided to keep it up. Twenty-four hours a day, there was someone praying for the church and lost souls around the world for over 200 years! The Gospel went from Count Zinendorf’s little village all over the world. He traveled to visit daughter churches and build up the brothers and sisters.

The Moravians came to Colonial America in obedience to the Great Commission. After an unsuccessful attempt to establish a Moravian settlement in Georgia, some of these missionaries went to Pennsylvania. The new Moravian settlers finished their first building on Christmas Eve. One half was a stable and the other side was used for church services. While the settlers sang in one room, cows mooed in the other, reminding them of Jesus birthplace, so they named the settlement “Bethlehem.”

Their Christmas Eve candle service included a “love feast” where coffee and buns were shared in fellowship. At the end of the service, Christians passed around lighted candles while they sang hymns to celebrate the birth of the true Light of the World.

The Love Feast was first celebrated in Germany in 1727. Not communion, it is an attempt to model the “common meal” that is mentioned in the book of Acts, where the early Christians shared a meal together before sharing communion.

John Wesley, and his brother, Charles Wesley, met the Moravians on a ship as they were all heading over to help start the new colony/ministry of Georgia. The Wesley brothers were impressed with the strong faith and bubbling joy of the Moravians and had many deep discussions on the ship and later on visits to their settlement.

Moravian traditions include singing, feasting, candles, special stars, and putz.

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The post A Moravian Christmas: An Old Christian Tradition Explained appeared first on Ultimate Homeschool Podcast Network.