Mar. 31, 2009 - First Class Homeschool Ministries - Homeschool Co-ops

First Class Homeschool Ministries Announces New Headquarters/Open House

Christian ministry that helps churches start homeschool co-ops gets a boost in the form of free office space at US Digital's Outreach Center.

Vancouver, WA March 31, 2009 -- First Class Homeschool Ministries is opening a parent resource center in the heart of Vancouver, Washington.  The new office space has become the headquarters for the international Christian ministry which helps parents and churches start homeschool co-ops.  The ministry will hold an open house on Thursday, April 2nd from 6:30-9:00 p.m. in the Outreach Center located on 136th near the Firstenburg Center.

A homeschooling movement is sweeping across the nation.  First Class aims to work with pastors and convince them to reach out to this growing demographic.  It seems that word about the ministry is catching on, as FCHM has become one of just a handful of ministries recently granted office space at US Digital.  In March, First Class Homeschool Ministries (FCHM) became part of the US Digital Outreach Center, whose goal is to provide Christian non-profits with needed office space and support - all free of charge.

For US Digital, the idea was simple: Develop 17,000 square feet of unused space in their 110,000 square foot facility and provide the infrastructure for a variety of small Christ centered ministries that complement each other.   US Digital would provide these ministries with a home and allow them the freedom to operate independently to fulfill their purposes. The common location of multiple ministries under one roof promotes synergy, cooperation, and networking that multiply their opportunities and effectiveness.

A simple "idea" for US Digital has become a miracle for ministries like FCHM.  First Class now has space to more effectively utilize it's 35+ volunteers and a room which has been set aside to house curricula and other homeschooling information for parents in the area. 

"This is an answer to three years of praying," said Jay St. John, Executive Director of FCHM.  "We could not believe it when we heard about this opportunity.  Our entire ministry has been energized by the move.  The heart behind the vision of US Digital is incredible and we are thrilled to be a part of it."

Thursday night, FCHM will host an open house for the community.  The purpose is to allow people to see the new office space and to become more familiar with the ministry of FCHM.  First Class, which has been operating homeschool cooperatives since 2000, now has 34 co-ops across the United States and Canada.  "We are excited about the growth of the ministry," said Jay, "It's something we have been working towards and praying about for a long time."  The open house will be open to anyone who wants to attend.  Light refreshments will be served.  At 7 p.m. a very short presentation will be made to commemorate the event.

FCHM has become the largest ministry of it's kind and has a vision for much more growth in the months and years to come.  First Class plans to extend it's reach even further with the opening of it's new offices.

Heidi St. John, co-founder of First Class, is expecting even more growth in 2009.  "It just keeps getting better," she said.  "Homeschooling presents tremendous challenges and opportunities to both parents and their children. We are excited about the opportunity to reach out and support them in very tangible ways."

For additional information on the ministry of FCHM or to reach the St. Johns directly, visit www.firstclasshomeschool.org.  

Jun. 8, 2008 - Have you ever wondered?

Jun. 7, 2008 - We're in Kansas City!

See this girl with me?  Her name is Maggie.   She was diagnosed with cancer and she lost her spleen as a result  when she was in her 20's.  Then, about a year ago, she contracted meningitis.  She had to have both of her legs amputated.  This young mom is absolutely amazing.  She is full of the spirit, and even though she has been through a terrible ordeal, she is being used by the Lord in a mighty way. 

I was touched deeply by her desire to know the Lord better.    I hope to see if we can have her come here for our next conference, I know you will be as blessed as I was.   The reminder is to cherish every moment, even the mundane ones.  You never know what is going to happen tomorrow. 

This was taken from Candace's blog...

Those of you that are a part of the FIAR family know who I am talking about when I mention Maggi. On Friday morning we were blessed to be able to hear Maggi speak. For those of you who do not know, Maggi is a mom in her thirties, homeschools her 4 boys, 10 years ago had cancer and as a result of that had her spleen removed. She recovered, however, and was an athletic, energetic, homeschooling mom of 4 boys enjoying life with her family.

About 15 months ago or so, Maggi had what she thought was the flu. She ended up in the hospital with a form of menigitis fighting for her life. As a result of this sudden and vicious illness, Maggi lost both of her legs from the knees down. You can imagine the heartache and tragic time this family was going through. However, there were times when no one knew if Maggi was going to live, so in the end, Maggi is thankful to be alive and grateful that her lower legs are all that were taken.

Maggi shared with us that you just never know. We do not know what tomorrow holds. We are not guaranteed another day with our loved ones. We are not guaranteed the ability to walk tomorrow on our own two feet. Cherish even the smallest of moments with your children. Take pleasure in the simple. This was Maggi’s message to us. What a blessing it was to be able to meet this amazing woman. Thank you, Maggi, for living for all to see a life of faith and trust in the Lord that is an encouragement and inspiration to all of us. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. Thank you for sharing who you are with us.

We had the opportunity to meet some potential NEW First Class co-op directors, to worship together, pray together, cry together and laugh, too!   God continues to do amazing things in the life of FCHM, and we are very excited about what is in the future.

Looking forward to the next three days before we hit the road again for eastern Tennessee!

Thanks for praying for us, and for praying for the ministry of First Class!  

Hugs from Kansas City!
Heidi St. John

Aug. 15, 2007 - Ya gotta love it!

Can anyone relate?

My thanks to my new friend Kitty, whom I met at the WATCH conference for sending this!

I loved it, and both my husband and I feel a renewed sense of vindication as we know we are not the only ones who experience this!

Have a great day everyone
heidi

Aug. 11, 2007 - Update, Copy & Paste, Dinner at Our house

Back to Homeschool 5 Tips for a Great Start to the New School Year "MOM!!! Spencer broke the chickens!"This was the call that came to my ears as I sat down to write this for you.   "What chickens, Summer?  We don't have chickens!!??"  My mind was filling with images of the frozen chicken the in garage freezer, strewn all over the stairs, or of the darling chicken drawing one of the kids made for us, torn to bits.  Fortunately for me, it was neither of those things. I had to laugh when she brought the "broken chickens" -which were not really broken at all.  All that fuss for a toy chicken Jay brought home from a mission trip to Russia two years ago.   And it wasn't even broken.  I asked myself (outloud) "Oh my, how am I ever going to fit homeschooling back into my schedule after taking the summer off?"   Life is so full already! If you are a homeschool mom, chances are that your life is as full and busy as mine. Your kids may not be "breaking chickens" but I'll bet they're up to some mischief!  Are you ready to add schooling back into your daily routine?? As homeschool moms, we need to be ready to minister joy and love to our kids.  The following 5 tips have helped me over the past ten years.   Be prepared Spiritually Have you spent time in prayer?  Do you know God's heart for your children this year? He wants to speak to you specifically about your homeschool plans!  Take the time to listen. Be prepared Relationally How's your relationship with your children?  Especially your teens ... are you connecting with them?  Remember, homeschooling is about relationships, first!  Talk a walk!  Read together - affirm your kids! Be prepared Academically In Washington we are required by law to test our children annually.  I have never looked at this in a bad way - it helps me to see where to chart our course for the following year maximize our homeschooling efforts. Be sure to lay out your course for each subject you are teaching, and then be willing to adjust it as you go along. Be prepared Emotionally Here is where you take care of the "me" in MOMMY! If you have not had a chance to rest and relax a little, take the time! Call a friend if you need to trade babysitting, or plan a nice quiet evening that you can sit down and ask the Lord to give you His joy for this coming year.  Locate your favorite teacup (if the kids haven't broken it yet) and read a book, or journal your thoughts. Be prepared Romantically Yes- you heard right.  If you are a homeschool mom - then you were a WIFE first.  What came first, the homeschool chicken or the homeschool egg?  I think it was the ROOSTER!  :-) Spend time with your husband, and take joy from that relationship. It is from the Lord and He wants to bless your marriage!  Share yourself with your husband and connect with him in every way before you dive headfirst back into the school year.  You'll both be glad you did. -heidi st. john Remember the heart of homeschooling - as Christian parents- should be to teach our children what it means to be fully devoted to following Jesus! Our children are watching us more than they are listening ... What are YOU saying by your example? The theme for this past conference was Encouragement from the Father for the Heart of Homeschooling Did you miss any workshops?  You can purchase them in either MP3 or CD format! CONFERENCE RECORDINGS are available at Best Christian Conferences AFTER AUGUST 12th   GET CONNECTED! Want to be part of an independent Christian homeschool cooperative? First Class Homeschool Ministries has co-ops in Washington: Renton Lake Stevens Snoqualmie Mount Vernon Vancouver Camas Spokane Longview Nation-wide: Central Louisiana Louisville, KY Appleton, WI Dorchester County, MD Classes start soon! For more information or to start a First Class co-op in your area,  visit www.fchm.org  call 360.326.8826 or email info@fchm.org What folks are saying about the 2007 Seattle Conference: "I have been absolutely and thoroughly blessed by the whole conference!  I feel you hit the heart issue directly-that it's not all about the academics but about the relationships with our spouses, kids and most importantly God.  Thank you for all your hard work, volunteer time and effort to make this weekend happen.  We are new WATCH members and look forward to helping out in future events!"  L.R. from Shoreline, WA "(The conference) helped us feel like a part of a community.  Calmed and encouraged us.  Gave us direction.  Loved that it was about so much more than what math book we should use."  M.W. from Vancouver, WA

Jul. 31, 2007 - On the radio!

Jul. 26, 2007 - Homeschool Conference Aug 3&4! Ya'll Come Now, Ya Hear?

This is the thing happening in Washington State this summer (imho) for homeschoolers!
I hope to see many of you there!|
$25.00 for 2 Full days!!!
You are invited to the 13th Annual

WATCH
(Washington Association of Teaching Christian Homes)
State Homeschool Conference
featuring Steve Lambert

Speaker and Publisher of Five in a Row  

  Place: Calvary Fellowship

Admission is only $25, and spouses attend FREE!
2 Full Days of Speakers and Encouragement

Don't miss it!

Register TODAY! 

August 3 & 4, 2007

Jul. 6, 2007 - Where is My Journal?

I have sort of given up blogging on HSB lately because I am too dumb to see it right I think.  I use Firefox and I don't think it goes well with hsb.  Anyway!

I keep a journal when we homeschool - and lately we have been on a break so I'm not writing things down that I would like to be.  For example, today, our 6 yr old son and I were having this conversation:

ME: Spencer, you are growing up too fast!  Stop that!

Spencer:  Yeah, but don't worry mom, when I marry Kara (his crush for the past two years) I will still know you and still talk to you.  I'm the only boy I know that fell in love at the wrong age.

Spencer says the sweetest things.  I need find my journal before I forget to write them down!  Spencer is also the one who created our favorite family saying - "I love you like HECK!"

The other night as I was tucking him in, I said, "Spencer, I love you like heck!" to which he replied, "mom, I love you toooo much."

Oh that time could stand still.  I love being a mom.

Jul. 5, 2007 - As If We Needed ONE more reason...

by Heidi St. John on Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:07 pm

Dear First Class Parents,

The WA state legislature is at it again. If you have a child in the school district that is in 4th grade or above, you need to know what has been decided for you.

Actually, even if you don't have children in the public school, we urge you to be informed about what is taking place because chances are good that you know someone who has a child in the public school system.

Let me just get your interest by quoting from the first paragraph of the attached letter written by WA State Senator Val Stevens on June 15, 2007:

This year in Olympia, parents were sold out. The Democrat supermajority ramrodded a bill through the Legislature that takes complete control over what their children are taught about sex. Parents will have no say in the matter. No school board meeting to voice their opinion and no forewarning.

Starting with the fourth grade, the State Department of Health and the Superintendent of
Public Instruction have been instructed to wnte the curriculum that will include information about both homosexual and heterosexual sex and contraception. It is scheduled to be ready and coming to their child’s school by September of 2008.

The end of local control.

Parents, it is crucial that we understand what is being promoted to our children through the public education system. We must not become complacent and unaware - there is too much at stake!

Please take the time to read this letter and forward it on to other parents. We will continue to pass updates along as they become available. I called the office of Sen. Stevens on July 5th to confirm that this letter did come from her office, so you can be assured it is "the real deal" and you won't end up seeing it on an internet "folklore" site. You can contact the Senator as well - she represents the 39th district in Washington State.

Because of Him, and for the Next Generation,

Jay and Heidi St. John

May. 12, 2007 - Mother Day: Redeeming Our Time

Redeeming Our Time Time Flies. The other day, I overheard a "celebrity" being interviewed on TV as I prepared dinner for our family.  The questions seemed to center on her public life, and then, one question got my attention. "If you could only say one thing to young mothers who are raising their children, what would it be?" asked the reporter.  The woman thought for just a moment and replied, "Life is not a dress-rehearsal.  You only get one shot at raising your kids.  Don't mess it up." Her voice cracked slightly, and I heard the familiar sound of missed opportunity in her tone. I wondered why.  By all appearances, she had the "perfect" life. Beautiful children, lots of money, handsome husband. I put down my paring knife to focus on the remainder of her short interview.  It turned out that she was estranged from two of her children.  She lamented the fact that while she was raising her children, she and her husband spent so much time cultivating a "perfect" family, that they did not develop a relationships with their children that would last.  It only looked good on the outside.   And now, it was too late to start over.  The time for raising her children had passed.  She could only warn other mothers not to walk down the same path she had gone down.  The time for sowing seed had passed.  The harvest was in. It is hard to hear those kinds of words.  My heart hurt for this mom.  Naturally, I thought of my own children.  Our oldest is nearly 16 - and it seemed that it was just yesterday when we were holding her in our arms, in awe of her perfect features and scared to death that we wouldn't do everything "just right".  I thought of my grandmother, who remarked to me just a few months after grand-daddy died that she was amazed at how fast her life had gone by.  Grandma said to me, "Heidi, the best thing you will ever do in this life is to love your husband and to raise your children to love and serve the Lord.  Don't let the world fool you into thinking that having children is anything less than the best thing you'll ever do."   She should know. I recently spoke to a group of women in Washington about the blessing of motherhood.  It seems odd to me that many Christians have bought into the world's way of looking at children. It must grieve the heart of God when we think of our children as anything less than a gift straight from the heart of the Creator Himself.   The Bible is full of stories of amazing moms who understood their worth before the Father.  God's word stresses the importance of mothers!  In Exodus 2 we read about Jochebed, the mother of Moses.  She protected her son, even putting her own life in peril, and then entrusted him to the Lord.  Eunice, the mother of Timothy, instructed her son in the knowledge of the scriptures and he went on to write one of the most amazing books in the New Testament. II Tim. 1:3-5; 3:14,15 In the United States today, mothers are under enormous pressure to conform to the world's view of children.  Radical Feminism has devalued motherhood in a quest for "greater meaning" and "true identity". But God sees things much differently.  God's view of children is a dramatic departure from the cultural norms of the world we live in.  The world says: "Children are a burden." God says, "Children are a blessing." The world says, "Try not to have more than two or three children. " God says, "Blessed is the man who has many children!"              The world says, "Children get in the way." Jesus said, "Let the little children come to ME." The world has diminished the high-calling of motherhood to little more than a "stop-over" on the highway of life. But God says that a wife of strong character is rare - she is worth far more than jewels!  (Prov. 31.10)  If you are a mother, you have an amazing opportunity every day to shape the future. As a homeschooling mom, you have even more time to influence the lives of your precious children.  Homeschooling provides endless opportunities to teach your children about God's love for them!  Mom, your job is so important!  You have been given the privilege of weaving a fabric of family life using the truth of God's word to impact the lives of your children... and ultimately this fabric will be a beautiful tapestry that will bear witness to the power and love of the Lord Jesus as your children walk with the One who created them in your womb. I'm glad I was reminded of the fact that life is not a dress-rehearsal.  I'm thankful that my grandmother loves the fact that Jay and I chose to have a family that doesn't fit the "worlds" mold very easily.  The time does pass quickly.   Let's redeem the time God has given us to influence these precious children for the Glory of God.  It's an investment that yields a harvest of joy that will continue into eternity. Happy Mother's Day! Heidi St. John Jay and Heidi are the blessed parents of six children - Savannah (15) Sierra (13) Skylar (10) Spencer (6) Summer Anne (4) and Sydney (1). In their spare time (??), they oversee the WATCH organization and First Class Homeschool Ministries.  The St. Johns reside near Vancouver. WATCH is pleased to invite you... 2007 Conference Please Join WATCH for our next  Conference in Seattle! AUGUST 3-4 2007 | Seattle, WA Calvary Fellowship in Mountlake Terrace Keynote Speaker: Steve Lambert Online registration begins in June. WATCH Graduation You are invited to join us on June 9th in Renton for the annual WATCH Homeschool Graduation. If you have a high schooler and are curious about this wonderful opportunity for the future, we encourage you to come and be inspired by these families .This year’s graduation will be Saturday, June 9, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.   First Evangelical Presbyterian Church (19800 108th Ave SE) in Renton, Washington. WATCH Membership WATCH is  able to bring events and conferences to the homeschoolers of Washington because of the support of our members. WATCH membership is $35.00/year Thank you for supporting WATCH!

14300 NE 20th Av D102-187 | Vancouver, WA | 98686  | 360.326.8348

May. 8, 2007 - First Class, Springtime, Year-round school... OH MY!

Isn't this great?  Here are my most favorite people in all the world in ONE picture and they're all looking in the same direction!  Amazing!   My friend Kim snapped this for us when we were at Jay's parent's house on Big Lake in Mount Vernon two weekends ago.  The LAST time we attempted to visit good old MV, we all got a terrible stomach virus so this time I prayed like crazy against the spirit of vomit :) before we even got in the car! We had a nice, vomit-free visit.  I've decided not to blog too much since I already need about 18 hours more in each day and my blogging doesn't seem to give me more hours but somehow I end up with less.   Crazy how that works! We're coming back up to Mount Vernon this weekend and we'll be staying for a few days so the kids are looking forward to that.  We are too.  Bunch of neat people up there that we love love love so it's always fun to make the drive.  Well, not the drive.  But the destination, we love! Our family is growing so fast.  (No I'm not pregnant... that I know of )  Savannah just got her driver's permit (she'll be 16 this summer) she aced it last week on her first time!  We've decided NOT to let her get her license for two years, choosing instead to let her drive as much as possible and let her get experience with us before turning her loose on the freeways.  (You're welcome.) Spencer just lost his first tooth.  :)  That little boy is a dreamboat of a child!  Yesterday he came up to me and said, "Mom, you're soooooo beautiful!  I'm going to kiss you!"  Which he did.  Then he went on to tell me it was okay if you wipe off someone's kisses because wiping them off only makes it so that other people can't see them - kisses always stay on. We're going to try year-round schooling on a scaled down version.  We have had a good year this year homeschooling, we've notebooked like crazy and we've had a great year at our co-op.  However I have let math slide a little so we're going to play some catch-up this summer.  I've noticed that the kids do best when we focus on subjects rather than trying to do six different ones each day.  So far the kids don't hate the idea *too much*.  Jay has been home now for five months.  The Lord is teaching us so much about His nature during this time.  For one thing - we're learning all about God's provision.  When He asked us to take this step of faith with First Class Homeschool Ministries, we knew it would be a leap into the unknown.  It's sort of like bringing your very first child home from the hospital - no one can really tell you what that will be like.  Nothing can prepare you for the emotions and the wonder and the LOVE that you will feel for that new little one.  You have to walk through it. I'm learning that God's call never lacks God's provision.  Never.  It may not always be in my timing (in fact it usually isn't as I recall) but it always has the ear-mark of God.  It may not always look like what I had envisioned but it is provision nonetheless and it's growing me in my relationship with the Lord.  Or maybe it's just testing the patience of the Lord?!    Good thing He is so long-suffering!~ We've been preparing for some time to take the homeschool co-op that we started in Mount Vernon and "package" it up so that others in different parts of the country can join First Class and become part of a nation-wide network of Christian Homeschool Cooperatives.  Since we are in leadership in the homeschooling community we have had the opportunity to see upclose and personal some things that have persuaded us of the need for a cohesive group of independent homeschool co-ops across this country. Since the time we finished the First Class DVD, we have received requests from nearly 40 states and are praying fervently for the first one outside of the state of Washington.  It's only been a couple of months (March) but the response has been amazing.  We have five First Class Co-ops in Washington now, and possibly adding two more to that number before the fall.  Our prayer is that this will give parents alternatives to government-funded programs and encourage parents to keep their homeschooling separate from the ps system, while helping them form friendships and receive support!  Most of you who know Jay and me personally, know that we have never been able to do anything on a small scale   (Notice the family photo.)  I remember thinking, "Well, if First Class Homeschool Coop was good for those families in Mount Vernon, it would be good for families in Vancouver!" and the natural progression was, "Well if it's good for the state of Washington, it would be good for the United States!"  See how we are?  Yeah, we know.  It's crazy.  But then God seems to do a lot of "crazy" things.    I think people thought Noah was totally out-to-lunch, and Joshua, the crazy guy, believed that God wanted him to win the battle with the Amalekites so much that he took it upon himself to ask God to keep the sun in one place so he could finish the job he had begun.  God is in the business of the miraculous!  We're trusting Him to build this ministry so that it will touch lives all across the country, and help parents homeschool God's kids. A lot is coming up for First Class Homeschool Ministries this summer.  We have our very first fundraising dinner down here in Vancouver at the Heathman Lodge on June 16th.  We're so excited about what God is doing through the ministry of First Class.  Our friends, Steve and Jane Lambert, who wrote the Five in a Row curriculum have really caught the vision and are coming from Kansas City to help us cast that vision as we look for God to provide financial support through His people.  I'd appreciate your prayers!  If you're interested in coming, please contact us!  Tickets have already been paid for, and now we're inviting people who are interested in seeing and supporting what God is doing through FCHM to come on the 16th.   We hope to have people there from all over the country.  Please pray for First Class and for the wonderful parents who are helping us get this ministry off the ground! If you would like to support First Class we would be so blessed.  We're a Federally registered non-profit now  (Yea!) so all donations are tax-deductible.  You can donate on our website. Hopefully I'll be back to blog soon, but just so you know, even though I'm not writing much I am READING your blogs!  Ya'll are fascinating and funny - and I enjoy hearing what is happening in your lives. Enjoy the beautiful spring weather! Heidi

Mar. 10, 2007 - Notebooking, Babies, and Blessings!

What's THIS??? A blog? I forgot how to use the thing! I'm copying this entry off of another page... I still can't figure out why the HS blogger buttons are not showing up in my browser! ((sigh)) Did I mention we have six kids? I don't know where I was finding the time to blog before, either! I'm excited about today ~ I'm throwing my friend Jenny a baby shower! But before that I 'm running TO another shower for my friend Joyce!! Joyce just adopted the sweetest little girl from China,  (here she is -----> "Gracie" is her name) and Jenny's baby is due in 4 weeks! I love both these dear women! These women have a lot in common now... both have big "spaces" in between children... it's been almost 12 years since she had a baby , and Joyce's last baby was born about 11 years ago. I'll try to post a picture later, Jenny is adorable. She's one of those women you want to shoot for looking so darn cute pregnant that it makes the rest of us look ... well.... just plain old "ordinary!" So I am wondering why I am not taking a shower right now instead of updating my blog .... not good ... oh well! Our two oldest girls just got back from 5 days in southern california. One of my sisters is a travel agent and every once in a while she gets killer deals. This year, Savannah & Sierra got to enjoy 3 days at Disneyland and two nights in the Disneyland Hotel for an unblelievable price! It was so neat to see them get to do something so fun that we could actually afford! I'll get some pictures off her camera as soon as she shows me how! Meanwhile, I had a birthday ~ I turned 27 (again) and Jay made me the nicest dinner including marinated steak (a favorite!) asparagus and red potatoes. YUM! The boy can cook AND he's gorgeous! What a lucky birthday girl I was! The really cool part was that he made me a chocolate cake with four layers! It was impressive, people ~ these two boys you see here reallly did a great job with the cake. We had a very nice, quiet (if there is such a thing) evening together. I was tired I think when Jay snapped this picture but Summer looks so sweet I put it in here anyway! Summer helped the boys put these little roses and candles on top of the cake. She was so proud of herself. I wish I had a picture of the streamers they hung :) too cute! Homeschooling is going so well this year. We have started notebooking which is sort of like scrapbooking only for school. It has changed the way I look at homeschooling. After ten years of doing this we've found a "groove" that we all enjoy! Last week Savannah noted that she has 90 pages in her notebook now, since September. They're really proud of them and their writing and spelling skills have improved dramatically since we are doing a lot of copywork, etc. It's very Charolette Mason in the approach, and our kids (even our high schooler and Jr Higher) love it!! I'm teaching a notebooking workshop here in Vancouver if anyone wants to come :) It will be on April 3rd. See our website for more information! www.firstclassclarkcounty.org In the meantime here are some favorite notebooking links: Jeanne Fullbright (writes a WONDERFUL science book for Apologia science. She's wonderful!!! Home Hearts Notebooking Pages.com Our homeschool co-op here in Vancouver is also going to have Barb Shelton here to speak later this month! More information can be found here. She was just at the WATCH conference, has graduated three kids from homeschool and is a dear friend, not to mention a dynamo speaker. If you live in the area, c'mon by! You'll love her! Well I better scoot ~ I hear some ruckus coming from the kitchen which tells me I'm already too late to prevent a mess Can anyone relate?? Have a great weekend! heidi

Feb. 26, 2007 - Rainbow in My Heart :)

Feb. 5, 2007 - Hello Again

Hi Everybody!   I wanted to stop in and plug the WATCH conference for anyone reading this who lives in the Pacific Northwest!  My husband and I head up the organization, and we have spent the last two months getting ready!  It's this weekend.  I hope to meet some of you! My husband and I are passionate about building up marriages, and we'll be teaching some workshops at the conference. If you need some encouragement, or some fresh ideas and insight, don't miss it! FEBRUARY 9-10 CALVARY CHAPEL SPOKANE! See you there :) Blessings, Heidi St. John Washington Association of Teaching Christian Homes Would you like to start a Christian Homeschool Co-op? First Class Can Help!

WATCH presents: "Joy for the Journey" our 2007 Eastern Regional Conference

WATCH

Ready, set, SPOKANE! WATCH 2007 Conference Feb 9-10

Greetings! Dear Fellow Homeschoolers, Have you ever been invited to a party, where the hosts serve your favorite kinds of food, the conversation is fun and encouraging (and you understand what people are talking about!), and everyone is glad you came? Do you remember how delighted and renewed you were afterwards, after you made the effort to go -- even though it was difficult, troublesome, and almost impossible to get out of the house? Well, WATCH is throwing a party next weekend in Spokane, and you are wholeheartedly invited. We are going to have your favorite kinds of speakers who will encourage, refresh, and inspire you. There will be vendors with great materials, who will be available to personally answer questions and spend time to help you. Other homeschoolers will be there, soaking in the mid-winter "Son"shine, and they will be so glad to meet new friends who are also walking the adventurous road of homeschooling. It IS hard to make arrangements and to pay the price. But the deal with parties is that they are one time events -- it's not going to happen again the following weekend or the following month or the following season. It's sort of a "be there or be square" happening, just for you. And, we really want to see you there so we can share the amazing joy of loving our spouses, loving our children, and following God! On a personal note, months ago I asked Steve Lambert, the keynote speaker, to come to Spokane, because I know his message will encourage you down to the depths of your being. Steve is real, he's funny, and, in great integrity, he has walked the talk for many years. No other speaker on the homeschooling circuit has Steve's ability to meet you where you are on the journey and give you hope for where you are going. I pray that each of you who are struggling with homeschooling will make the effort to come, because our time together will be life-changing. God bless you! Diana Waring For the WATCH Board

Special Hotel Rate Reservations End on Feb 2nd! WATCH is pleased to be working with Travel Savvy, Unlimited, a homeschool-friendly travel agency based in Fairview, Oregon. We have blocked rooms at the Red Lion Inn. To receive the WATCH rate, you MUST make your reservations by February 2nd. Please make sure you identify yourself as a WATCH Conference Attendee. Call Travel Savvy toll-free at 1.866.620.4842 or visit them online. If you miss this deadline, we suggest trying the Quality Inn and Suites, which is close-in to the conference location. Quality Inn Oakwood 7919 N. Division St. , Spokane, WA, US, 99208 Phone: (509) 467-4900 Fax: (509) 467-4933 Conference Exhibit Hall Opens at 3:00 p.m. on Friday February 9th. Come early! We will have several exhibitor workshops running during the first hour.

Online Registration Ends Soon! The WATCH team is traveling to Spokane soon! If you are planning on coming to the conference but have not yet registered online, please do so as soon as you can. Online registrants will have a special packet ready for them at check-in ... so no (or very little) waiting in line, personalized information, doorprizes and more! We will also be taking registrations at the door. Follow the signs upon arrival at Calvary Chapel. Bottom line: Your advance, online registration helps WATCH serve you better. Conference Information Speaker Highlight: Catherine Levison Curious about notebooking? Would you like to learn more about the "Charolette Mason" method of homeschooling? You won't want to miss this opportunity! Catherine Levison, mother of five, author, and a resident of Washington state, began homeschooling in the 1980's. Home education had only recently been legalized in her state and she found herself in need both of materials and a philosophy in a relatively new field. Catherine thoroughly researched various educational methods looking for the best possible choice for her family. Concerned for the quality of education for her children, she also needed a method that could keep her interest as she anticipated over twenty years of home schooling before her. English educationalist Charlotte Mason proved to be the answer. Her family flourished due to creative and effective techniques such as using poetry, masterpiece artwork, nature sketching--all combined with consistent attention to the academics. Catherine will be presenting three workshops for the WATCH Conference in Spokane, geared toward teaching your children using Charolette Mason's methods. If you are interested at all in this method of teaching, you won't want to miss this wonderful opportunity! Speaker Highlight: Steve Clark Need some fresh insight on High School level math? Steve Clark is a “homeschool dad” who personally teaches his own children. He and his wife, Katrina, live in Louisville, Kentucky, and have 5 children, ranging in age from 14 to 20. From 1997 to the present, Steve has worked with VideoText Interactive, where his main focus has been to advise and counsel parents who want to make sure that their children excel in high school math. In order to accomplish this goal, he first talked with hundreds of experienced homeschoolers and their children, and then Clark personally used these newly developed programs to homeschool his own children. Along with his work at VideoText, Clark is also President of the Homeschool Speakers & Vendors Association. HSVA is a company that helps homeschool vendors in the development and promotion of their products, with the goal of ensuring that all homeschoolers in the US and Canada have access to the very best curriculum available.

	Contact WATCH
	Register by phone!	24 hour message line	360.326.8348	info@WATCHhome.org

Purchasing WATCH Conference Workshop CD's and MP3's You may visit our online store for MP3 and CD orders from our recent conference this past August in Seattle with Dr. Jay Wile. The Spokane Conference recordings will be available for purchase soon! Keep watching for more details or visit Best Christian Conferences after Feb 12, 2007.

Dec. 27, 2006 - A Christmas to Remember... or NOT

Okay I never thought I'd hear myself say this but....
I'M GLAD CHRISTMAS IS OVER!

I'm back to my blog but only for a moment because I have a house to clean up and dinner to put in the crock pot.   2007 has officially gone down in St. John history as the WORST Christmas for us on record.  After traveling to MV, Spencer, our 5yob, came down with a terrible , throwing up flu at about 9pm which I followed up by getting the same thing at exactly 11:30 p.m.  We both threw up all night -slept side by side on the bathroom floor at my in-laws (yuck)  and about 6:00 a.m. we both crawled back into bed.

With morning came the raging fever,my body ached so bad I could not even bend my fingers...  THEN came the phone call from my sisters that EVERY SINGLE ONE of the family at my mom's  Christmas party the night before had come down with the same terrible flu, Ryan and Haley were in the ER getting IV fluids and even my mom's huband's daugther had it bad.  This stuff is so contagious, we could see the entire extended family Christmas runined because we came to visit!

SOOOO, Jay decided that rather than pass it to the St. John clan MV we would go home.  Skylar threw up most of the way home and I was semi-comatose and  after putting the two babes to bed went to bed fully clothed and slept for over 12 hours.  Yesterday was a wash, but am feeling much better today.

Needless to say the kids are terribly disappointed to have missed all the partying in MV , but grateful to be alive after the ordeal.  They were so "done" with Christmas that by the time I got out of bed yesterday the tree was down and all the decorations were a thing of the past.  Happily we replaced them last night with our collection of snowmen and snowflakes which are cheery and fun to have in the house.

Seems that everyone is feeling better today, and Jay and the three olders (who we ordered to take airborne before the symptoms set it) escaped the terrible stuff.  Luckies!

We're going to have a new year's eve party to make up for it though :)  At least then the Christmas lapbooks we have been working so diligently on will have something good to report!

Alrightey then!!!    I'm ready for summertime.  Are we there yet?

Dec. 2, 2006 - December's Off and Running!

The Holidays are Here, Charilie Brown

Seems like the time is flying by but I want to stop and record our favorite moments so far this holiday in case I forget... :)

1. The weekend before Thanksgiving Jay and I had the privilege of visiting Spokane Washington to meet with area homeschoolers and find out what in on their hearts.  We had an excellent meeting - and the bonus was that we got to connect with our dear friends, the Wilsons, whom we have not seen in nearly four years!  They have added two children to their quiver (currently at 8) and we enjoyed our visit immensely.  Our only regret was that we did not have more time to visit.  The Wilson's entertained us at a wonderful Chinese restaurant in Spokane, and it was funny be somewhere w/out our own children --- but we enjoyed theirs!
1. You know you've got a friend when you can go for four years w/out seeing eachother and pick things up right where you left off!  Thanks Darryl & Durenda!  We love you!
2. Thanksgiving Day was spent at home with my sister Hope and then we had dinner at my mom's.  The kids spilled more food than they ate and grandma was even there so that was especially meaningful.
3. Day After Thanksgiving "Black Friday" Jay and Hope and our girls got up at 4am and were out shopping by 5am!  They got great deals and came home tickled with their purchases, even after braving those huge lines... what a man I married.  He's such a great sport!
4. Jay's Parents came down on Friday for a four day visit.  Mom helped us decorate the house ... took down all the Thanksgiving/Fall decorations and put up all the Christmas decorations!  She's such an inspiration!  I think she has more energy than I do and she loves the holidays so it was especially fun to have them here.  While they were here...
5. The Kreiders came from Mount Vernon for Saturday night dessert and Sunday worship. We have not seen them since we moved from Mount Vernon (three years ago) and again, like the Wilsons, we had fun picking up where we left off.  We always seem to spark interesting conversation together and it was a good time of catching up and encoruaging eachother.
6. Zoolights was the Sunday night destination.  The Oregon Zoo really goes all our for Christmas and we took Jay's parents along with us.  It was magical.  We are members of the zoo so it's "free" except for the 2.50 train ride fee.  If you live in the area, it's WORTH going, we loved it!!
7. Jay winterized our motorhome on Monday (huge chore) but worth it :) and I I'm glad, he did it just in time for the ice and snow that followed that same day!
   
8. Finally, we took our oldest two to see a special screeing of "The Nativity" on Thursday night.  We LOVED this movie! Take your kids if you can, and soak in the music and the story.  It was wonderful.  Can't say enough good things about it.  A highlight for us was that our darling daughter Savannah, won the grand prize drawing - going home with all things "Nativity" .. for the movie, that is... two hats, two shirts, two CD soundtracks, a set of books, study guides and an advent calendar. There were about 250 people there so this was a big deal, with only five prizes given out in all!  It was fun!
   

Nov. 29, 2006 - Homeschooling and the Holidays

Nov. 22, 2006 - Dr. Phil hosts a show on "homeschooling" or NOT

Dr. Phil's homeschooling show this Friday

Posted by: "Kim Railey" kim_railey@yahoo.com   kim_railey

Tue Nov 21, 2006 1:33 pm (PST)

Nov. 13, 2006 - Thankful

for
the Lord Jesus
 my husband
our children
our families
A cozy fire in the fireplace
The windy weather - it's fun to watch
homemade pizza
homeschooling
First Class Homeschool Co-op
God's forgivness - He accepts my apolgies-without reservation
faith (see Hebrews 11)
my washer and dryer
indoor plumbing (we've been reading about the pilgirms!)
grocery stores
modern medicine
crockpots
old friends
new friends
the internet (homeschooling is so much easier with it!)
forgiveness
chocolate
pilates :) they go with the chocolate
liberty
a recent visit to Colorado Springs
our motorhome
memories of campfires and smores this past summer
skipbo with the children
candlelight
music to go with it
dreams to take us into the next year...
I'm so thankful.
So thankful.

Nov. 9, 2006 - As the World Turns ... away from God