"It was a joy to hear you speak at the Niche conference. It was also a privilege that you gave me a few minutes of you time at the end of the conference when you were probably exhausted and wanting to be on you way. Since I am sure many people speak with you at conferences, perhaps it will refresh you memory if I tell you that I am the one that saved my birthday money from October to buy "Ignite the Fire". I wanted to write and tell you how much I enjoyed your book. I have heard you speak a few times in the past and the Fire method really appealed to me. We incorporated it a bit into our school year last year but I did not fully understand how it worked.

Well, the Monday after I bought your book at the Niche conference, we took a 9 hour trip to northern Minnesota. I read "Ignite the Fire" the whole way there and the whole way home (Okay, I will be 100% honest, I did not read it the WHOLE way. We had five children in the van!). I marked it, read parts to my husband, reread parts of it, prayed, started a Fuel Book and got more and more excited as I read! My husband was intrigued by what I read to him and told him about your book.

To make a long story short, we plan on using the Fire method in our homeschool now. The Lord really confirmed to me that we are making the right choice when my Mom called and said she had two boxes of notebooks and could we possibly use them. :-) My son and I spent Saturday getting the notebooks ready. Both older sons have already picked their personal interest notebooks (My oldest son picked US geography and American Indians. Our second son picked penguins.) I am especially excited about their Bible notebooks. Anyway, just wanted to write and tell you how the Lord used you in our lives. Thank you for taking the time to write the book.

God bless you."

In Christ,

Kim in Iowa

PS I read "The Greatest Mom Ever" last year and was blessed by it as well.

"Dear Terri,

I bought your book a year ago and it sure has changed my homeschooling approach. I knew I needed some fun in my homeschooling. My kids loved the the games in the book. but most important to me, was to remember that God needed to be a part of my homeschool and I wasn't letting him. I prayed about everything we studied last year. We did a civil war unit, which the kids just loved. Then I was going to study ancient Rome and prayed about it and God led me to World War II. We read the Hiding Place with it. I was worried they were a little to young to do this study, but God knew what He was doing and it was the most meaningful study we have had. I just can't thankyou enough for the book. I still use it quite often. Thankyou for making my homeschool fun again."

Kathy

"Dear Terri,

I don't know if you will remember me, I imagine you touch so many hearts, that it would be impossible to remember us all! I met you at the Curriculum Fair at the First Baptist Church of Trenton last April. I was the one who cried on your shoulder. April was a terrible month for me. Both of our cars quit running, my husband lost part of his income due to insurance hike and I lost my ability to focus and do God's will. Then I met you, and you gave me your book Ignite the Fire!. You asked me to write to you-to let you know how I was doing. I believe you are a sincere and God loving person-that is why I am writing to you now.

When I took your book home with me, I spent the next week studying it cover to cover. I read, memorized, highlighted and made notes in the margins, but most importantly-I prayed. When I finished your book, I was ready to begin homeschooling again. I woke up fresh and early Monday morning and I prayed, 'Lord-what do you want me to teach my children today?' His answer was, "How to be a friend." I chuckled to myself and thought ok-that'll take 5 min-what will I do with the rest of my day? But wanting to be faithful and obedient, I began our school day with my 3 yr old son's Awana book, Ern E. Elephant Made Peanut Butter Cookies for His Friends. Ethan shouted, "Hey, we can do that for our friends too!" That's all I needed to hear? We put up our pencils and books and headed for the kitchen? Now I have 4 children- my daughter Olivia was 7, my son Jonathon was 5, my son Ethan was 3, and my daughter Adelia was almost 2. I gave them each a turn in measuring and mixing while we discussed what makes a good friend and how we can be one. Then when our peanut butter cookie dough was ready, I showed them how to roll it into balls and make patterns in them with a fork. As we did this and began baking cookies, I took that time to share with my children my most favorite Bible story of all - Elijah and the 1st Angel food cake? I told them how Elijah was in fear for his life and he ran away and prayed that God would kill him - ha had had enough and he didn't want to go on anymore. He laid down to sleep when and Angel came:" All at once an Angel touched him and said "Get up and eat." He looked around and there by his head was a cake baked over hot coals and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too great for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 1 Kings 19:5-8

So you see - the Lord provided strength to Elijah with the 1st Angel food cake: We had a wonderful time in the kitchen that day.

When our cookies were all finished, we prayed that God would show us who needed a friend. And we would take some cookies to them. The 1st thing that came to my mind was how Jesus taught us to take care of orphans and widows. Well I didn't know any orphans but we do have a widow in our church that I had been praying for, for some time. We had a wonderful time listening to her stories of yesterday, while sharing with her our experiences in homeschooling. And this was the start of our "cookie ministry"!

It has been 4 months since I met you- and there isn't paper enough to share all that has happened - because of you and your book. Our cookie ministry continues as does our lesson on how to be a friend - a long 5 min. don't you think?

Anyway Terri - I just had to share this much with you. You were my angel sent from the Lord - and your book was my cake - it still holds its sweet savor and continues to strengthen me. The Lord touched me through you and even though the journey is still too great for me - I find my peace and strength in the Lord.

Thank you, Terri."

In His Love,

Elizabeth Ross