Yes, the title is my poor attempt at humor.   It is spelling bee time again.  My 8th grade dd has been sooo excited.  She has already been studying "How to Spell like a Champ" for the last two months.   So when the letter came telling us to call the Scripps National Spelling Bee to register, I did right away.     Last year we were able to register as a homeschooling family for only $10.   This year we have a problem or a mountain so to speak.   They told us that if we belonged to a homeschool group or association we had to join with them for $99.   They then assume that the homeschool group will hold their own bee and send only the best on to the local regional bees.   I tried to explain that yes, my name is on a "local" (one hour away) homeschool groups roster.....yes I paid dues.  BUT, they DO NOT want to participate.  I emailed the whole group trying to get even 4 other families involved.   The group itself offered to pay half IF I could get even 4 more families interested.....but to no avail.   No one responded.  So it is just us.   Scripps was very adimit that is this years rule, and therefore my daughter cannot participate this year unless we pay the $99 fee by next Wednesday!      That is a lot of money no matter what, but especially if she doesn't go on to the next bee.   I don't want to put that kind of pressure on her.   Sigh.   It is also hard to say "sorry, dear.  I know this is the last year that you are eligible for this.....and that you are the only one in our family who can spell....but they changed the rules and now you can't do it because we don't have the money :("  The public school suggested that we call the local Optimist club, etc and try to get sponsors.....surprisingly the public school actually has been very helpful through out this whole thing.   But I guess I am whimping out.   I just can't believe that it is such an ordeal to get my daughter into this nationally recognized and often won by homeschoolers event!       Sigh, again.   

So, here is a mountain you can pray for God to move!  It is just a little one....but I am sure that there are other homeschool families out there facing this same little mountain.

Carylee