New Series and Sundries

I've been hinting at a project relating to American History. It is something I have wanted to do for years, but I've been so involved in other projects that I didn't think I could get to it again, so I've been hesitant to announce it. But everything inside of me is telling me DO IT....NOW!!!

So here is what it will look like.

It is called My America Story Book. My husband said, "Shouldn't it be 'Our" story? And I said there is no such thing. The history of America exists only as it is recreated in individual hearts. There is not two of us that see America in exactly the same way.

But do understand--the stories each of us comes to accept and believe about America will be the lens through which we will see everything. Our stories we take in will either make us love her or hate her; work to save her or work to bring her down.

The fight for America and freedom will not be determined by who is elected in November. It will be decided by the stories--or lack thereof--stored in the hearts of her citizens.

Many Americans lack a foundation of even the basic stories of our history. Our history is being rewritten at a time when most people don't even know what the original story looked like.

I would like to share the 'original' story with you, as told through the writers who lived in the childhood of our nation. My desire is not to give you 'THE' story, but merely to provide a snapshot of some of America's Builders and Makers. If I can but spark a desire to learn more, I will have accomplished my purpose.

Starting September 1st, Monday through Friday, I will be posting an audio story of someone from our history. I'll be following the rotation schedule. So Month 1 we will be looking at the Explorers and the Discoverers.

At the beginning of each month, I will provide a PDF for you to print out of notebooking sized paintings to go with each person as well as photographs of their monuments, which nearly all of them have. Many of these monuments may not even be around by the end of the year! But you can preserve them in your storybook. In this way, your kids can create their own America Story Book. Just write the name of the person at the top of each page, glue some pictures on, and let them add anything else to the page they'd like.

I know many of you are frozen because of all the choices placed before you. This is going to give you the absolute easiest spine I can possibly think of. And you're going to enter the world of notebooking without any stress or worry.

If this is all you did for History this year, you will be amazed at what you will know and understand by the end of the year. I have that much confidence in the stories I'll be sharing with you. And don't worry--they are not all sanitized. These writers had the ability to recognize the flaws but understand the value of the contributions made.

Remember--they were written by people who wanted to teach rising generations how to hold on to the freedom that had been paid with so dear a cost.

And of course, there will be song, and poetry.

One more piece--kind of a last minute thought. I thought many of you might like a more permanent collection of these stories, so we will be combining the 20 stories each month in a new series called My America Story Book. Unfortunately I ran out of time to get it in this month's bundle, but if you sign up for it. you will receive both Month 1 and Month 2 volumes in your September shipment. Or the free digital version will be posted on our Forgotten Classics page.

I will be creating a separate web page to house this because I want a place for you to send anybody looking for a way to learn and share America's story. Of course, it will be free.

Krystal will be adding the new series to our store probably today. By the way, the Catch the Vision reference library and the other 3 new series should all be in the store now. If not, for sure by the end of the day.

I have the words of Longfellow's 'Building of the Ship', which is all about the building of America, running through my mind as I write this:

Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our tears,
Our faith triumphant o'er our fears,
Are all with thee, — are all with thee!
​
I love our country and this is my small contribution to help save her.