This Thursday, March 1st, will be the 1-year anniversary of the passing of our dear Missey Gray.  If you didn't have the priviledge of knowing Missey, you can peek into her life at her blog here.  (I just want to say a big thank you to the wonderful people here at HSB for leaving Missey's blog up so we can all continue to glean from it.  I hope it remains available for a very long time).

If you are unfamiliar with Missey's story, last March 1st she underwent a C-section to deliver her 5th child and died from an amniotic embolism.  Moms around the country were shocked and hearts were broken as Missey had touched so many lives and helped so many other homeschoolers with her wisdom and kind spirit. 

In honor of Missey and all that she represented, homeschoolers around the globe are celebrating 'Heartschooling Day' this Thursday, March 1st and hope to continue doing so every year on (or around) this day.  One of Missey's entries on her blog talks of how she is she is putting away all the formal school work and just enjoying the holiday season with her children... playing, baking, etc.  So Heartschooling Day is a day to just put away all the formal stuff and just enjoy being with our children.  Do what THEY want to do.  Cuddle and read, go to the park, bake something together, get down on the floor and play Barbies or trucks.  Whatever!  As long as you're ALL laughing and making precious memories together.

Please join us in honoring this much-loved and very-missed momma.  I know it will touch her husband and children's hearts to know that Missey touched so many lives and that she has not been forgotten, but instead is being honored. 

If you do participate, please return here and tell about your day (Just leave a 'Comment' to this post).  I will be printing off all the stories and sending them to Tom and the children to let them know just how much Missey touched so many lives and that she is not forgotten.

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Posted by Jocelyndixon

Mom heard about Missy through a friend and that's how we got here. I will let her know!!

Sincerely,
Jocelyn

PS. love your blog colours.

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Posted by Anonymous

What a WONDERFUL tribute~it will be such an honor to participate in memory of Missey. (((((HUGS))))) sandi~crying!

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Posted by Theresa

What a great idea! I like to visit over at Missey's blog now and again and read through her entries.

Blessings!
Theresa

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Posted by TrainingHearts

I will be participating in this with my girls. I'm not sure what we will be doing right now but I am leaning towards a tea party :) We will also say a special prayer for their family. I have my youngest daughter born on March 1st too, so we will also have a "Happy Birthday" cake. I posted this on my blog also.

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Posted by SuperAngel

we were just wondering when the anniversary would be. That is a wonderful idea for honoring Missey.
Will be praying for their family.
Have a good week!!
God Bless and Keep You and Yours!!
Take Care!!
Amanda ~ Siol Enal ~ SUPERANGEL

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Posted by Anonymous

We are particpating today with all of you and praying for Missy's soul and her beautiful family.
Molly in Ohio

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Posted by Anonymous

I'm at homeschoolblogger.com/homelearnin. Just want to wish you well on this day. What we did today (my daughter & I) was go to a Christian Youth Theater play and find that it was cancelled due to low ticket sales. So I guess we'll have to go tonight if it doesn't snow too much.
May the Lord bless each one of you this day and wrap His lovin' arms around you. Jill

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Posted by eyecorn

Hi:

I did participate, my full entry is on my blog...but here is the portion about our day....BTW, thank you for letting us know about this...

Today was a bit unusual. DS has been working hard the last week. In my "high school scare" mode, I've been steady on the history, literature and writing assignments.

So, since DH was home from work, he took DS to play golf. It has been weeks (I guess their hunting outing about 6 weeks ago) since they spent time alone as father/son. I think it qualifies as a life learning experience. Plus, he'll have to do some reading for literature - "How Green Was My Valley".


DD has spent a lot of time working on her piano pieces. Plus, she did 4 pages in her theory book. She also checked in on her plant growing experiement (Check it out HERE and DOWNLOAD our lab sheets).

We also played phoics bingo, then, played a spelling game with the indoor basketball goal...remember playing HORSE as a kid? It's just like that.

After completing 2 "telling time" worksheets, I had her walk around the house and read the different clocks.

We worked on her latest "Zoo" book. I fold legal size paper in half, staple in the middle, and she fills the pages with various animals. Her technique has become quite "sophisticated". She now draws the animal and their entire habitat. It has been amazing to see how what we've read in so many animal books has stuck in her mind. She remembers many details about how each animal lives, feeds, raises its young.

Later today she has piano leson and soccer practice.

And, a game of monopoly has been scheduled for tonight.

So, that's our day today on the first annual Heartschooling Day.

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Posted by Jaybird

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Jaybird/293374/Our+HeartSchooling+Day.html

Tried to HTML it but it didn't work. :(

Edited by Jaybird on Mar. 1, 2007 at 7:07 PM

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Posted by MOMatHWTK

We baked oatmeal cookies and I made half of them chocolate at the kids' request. I let the two older ones take turns adding the ingredients and then they each got a bowl of dough to eat. (We are egg free so no worries!)

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Posted by SunnyFlowers

Missey is surely missed... today we honored her by playing in the snow, jumping on the tramp (yes, even me!), reading stories, making homemade pizza, and just *being*. :-)

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Posted by Titus2woman

As time permitted today I went to each of my three boys and asked what they would like to do alone with me, and they each chose a game. I'm usually not a fan of bored games (pun intended), but it meant sooo much to them! I'll really hafta do this more often.

We made homemade cheese pizza for dinner~the boys' favorite! Hazel enjoyed the crusts....

Isn't it just amazing how Missey's life has changed sooo many of us? and for GOOD! I miss her, but she is surely still very alive in my mind and in the choices I make in my home. (((((HUGS))))) sandi

Edited by Titus2woman on Mar. 1, 2007 at 9:16 PM

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Posted by drewsfamilytx

Wow, I've been enjoying reading about every one's Heartschooling Day!

I can't believe it's been a year...my heart still aches for her family. But what a lovely family pic at the bottom!

Praying for God's blessings, guidance and encouragement for the Gray family.

Love,
Marsha

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Posted by Theresa

Tom and children, in honor of your beautiful wife/mother we put aside our books yesterday and heartschooled.

I can only imagine how hard this last year has been for you but please know that you are often in my thoughts and prayers.

http://gracelikerain.typepad.com/grace_like_rain/2007/03/and_all_thy_chi.html

Blessings and love in Christ,
Theresa

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Posted by deedeeuk

Thursday was one of those days that just don't go to plan, so we bumped it onto Friday to do! As well as some neccesary errands, we spent the day doing things about Dr. Suess as it was his birthday! My boys love Dr. Suess books, so this it a real treat! We did some puzzles and worksheets about the books, played some games, and had Green Eggs and Ham for tea (of course!) while Mommy sat a read the book 'Green eggs and ham' to them! Extra hugs, cuddles and stories at bedtime! Thanks for reminding us again to make it all about them and their hearts instead of their heads!

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi this is Cindy from High Hopes Academy and I just wanted to tell you what my children and I did to celebrate Heartschool Day. First the children and I prayed for Missey's family and for homeschool families everywhere. Then we made a cake in honor of Missey. It was a heartshape cake ontop of a square cake (which was decorated as our chalkboard) unfortunately I wasn't able to get a picture before someone sunk their fork into it. heehee
After the cake we watched the movie Pay it Forward and thought of Missey and all that she had done for and with homeschool families everywhere. We did not have the priveledge of knowing Missey ourselves but have read her blog and wish we did know her. I pray the Lord blesses her family and keeps her memory strong in the hearts of her children. Bless you Tom and children as you continue to live in her memory.
I have posted photo's and our events on my blog
http://www.homesteadblogger.com/HighHopesAcademy/ Please feel free to stop in and see them.

In Him
Cindy B

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Posted by bnbandy

We participated on Thursday as well...the full story is on my blog and I just wanted to say thank you!!! We will be praying for Missey's family this year.

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Posted by 4evrHischild

Thanks, while we couldn't celebrate a heartschooling day on the 1st because of doctors appointments and such, we chose to use today and went on a winter picnic in the snow. It was great.

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Posted by Gina in SC

I heard about this from a friend & it brought tears to my eyes. I did not know Missey, but her legacy she left is strong & living still!
Our children LOVED the day ~ I explained to them what it was about & they listened quietly & respectfully...then we were on to planning what we'd do for the day! After playing 2 or 3 board games, baking a cake in the Easy Bake oven, a batch of homemade cookies in the REAL oven;) and running around playing outside, we collapsed on the couch to enjoy each other's hugs:) Thank you! We will 'Heartschool' next year as well! This is a beautiful tradition to make us step back and appreciate the great privilege & honor it is to homeschool our children!

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