Last night was our monthly support group meeting, with about 75 people in attendance. We had 60 chairs set up, so we had to scramble to set up some more and still a few people had to stand.  I'm afraid we might be outgrowing our space at the bookstore. In the past month we have added 50 new families to our support group, bringing us up to about 240 families.

We always start our meetings with a devotion, and Renee shared the journey that the Lord has led her on this past year or two, bringing her "all the way home".  She was involved in leadership of a weekly women's Bible study group, but felt the Lord pulling her out of that, and showing her that her family was getting the "leftovers" of her time and attention. This is a difficult area for us to discern, I think, because service is what many of us DO, and it is natural to extend that to our church and community.  Sometimes mothering and homeschooling can be "thankless" jobs, and we often get affirmation and compliments and warm fuzzies from these other activites. But are we being short-tempered with our children because we "have to get this Bible study lesson finished"?  Are we running through the drive-thru for dinner again, because we have to go to another meeting tonight?  Are we listening to our little ones or our husbands with half an ear, because we are thinking of that project we are working on or that presentation we are going to make?  Our years with our children are fleeting ~ my oldest turns 21 this spring!  Is the Lord speaking to you about priorities and where your heart lies?

We are required here in NC to administer a standardized test to our children every year, so last night we spent a few minutes talking about the different tests available.  A good handout on standardized testing can be downloaded from HomeSchoolerTests.com

Then we had a panel discussion on Homeschooling More Than One.  There were 5 moms who answered questions and offered suggestions. Each one approached their homeschooling differently and had different things they focused on, but they all agreed on several things as well. One of those was starting each day with the Bible, because discipling our children is our number one calling as Christians.  Another key thing was flexibility and cooperation among family members. Each family had different methods for assigning chores, but everyone in the family pitched in, from oldest to youngest ( okay, not the infants)  Also, each family had a method for lesson planning and assigning daily school work.  One mom writes up daily lesson plans several weeks at a time, and then dates and highlights them as they are completed. Another writes weekly lesson plans a semester at a time, and gives out a list of work to be completed by the end of the week, allowing her children to work at their own pace. Yet another writes assignments on index cards and places them on each child's placemat ( which serves as their message center) on the dining room table.  Index cards must be dated and given back to mom when the assignment is completed, and they are then filed away. 

I always enjoy hearing how other families handle the challenges of parenting and home educating.  I have to admit, though, that I came home discouraged last night.  I think the Lord was using the words of my sisters at the meeting to show me areas that I have let slide - badly.   Things have been very hectic and busy around here, and I'm afraid I have let my priorities get misplaced. Soooooo, I am praying and doing some soul-searching and trying to get back on track. 

We started our day with Bible study and talking about Godly character this morning. 

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