Confessions of a Homeschool Mom - Homeschool Blogger

First Class Homeschool Ministries - Homeschool Co-ops

Tue, 31 Mar 2009 02:06:00 -0500

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.

Contact: Melissa Lowery, Executive Assistant
First Class Homeschool Ministries
360-326-8826
http://www.firstclasshomeschool.org
1400 NE 136th Avenue
Vancouver, Washington 98684

Have you ever wondered?

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 15:19:00 -0500

Have you ever wondered what you would do if you had to face cancer? How about the loss an arm or a leg? Try battling cancer and then loosing both legs and you will begin to understand why this story is so remarkable.

You need to see this if you haven't already... this is the story of that awesome mom that I had the privilege of meeting at the FIAR Homeschool Conference this weekend.

Jay and I led worship for several sets, but one of the highlights of our weekend was hearing Maggi talk about what God has been teaching her since she lost her legs last year after contracting meningitis.

My new perspective for facing any trial is going to be "What is God trying to TEACH me?" .... check this out ... and then pray for this precious family. I expect to be hearing a lot more from Maggi in the months and years to come. God isn't finished writng her story yet.

Thank you, Maggi, for sharing!

Be blessed!
heidi

We're in Kansas City!

Sun, 8 Jun 2008 00:37:00 -0500

Don't you just LOVE IT when God shows up?? He did this weekend in Kansas City Missouri.

We have just spent the last four days ministering to an amazing group of homeschool parents, most of them (if not all) are Five in a Row users! We did the marriage conference for the first two days and ended this afternoon with worship. It was so sweet!

Spending time with God's people, meeting others who are seeking to know the Lord in a new way and then getting to be part of their lives as they grow is humbling.

We've been blessed.

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

Ya gotta love it!

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 16:15:00 -0500

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

Update, Copy & Paste, Dinner at Our house

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 11:31:00 -0500

Well I am getting lazy with my blog entries :) I write a newsletter for a couple different homeschool organizations so I have decided to just copy and modify them a bit for my blogs. A girl can only do so much! I feel as if the summer has just flown by! Savannah is DRIVING now. (pray for me!) and the ministry that God has laid on our hearts to help churches reach out to homeschoolers (www.firstclasshomeschool.org) is growing almost as fast as our children. We have a few big announcements on the horizon. As we pray and seek the Lord hope to be able to make them soon. :) I know, I"m such a TEASE. hahaha!

Last night I was making dinner (london broil, salad, mashed potatoes and something else I can't remember) and I heard this funny "squirt squirt" sound coming from the living room. I peered around the corner in horror only to find Summer (age 4) squirting Sydney (age 2) with the sunblock! It was the pump kind, not the aerosol (thank heaven!!) but it was EVERYWHERE. All over the walls, the couches, Sydney, the carpet, and the stairs. I was TOO MAD to get pictures. Now I wish I had so you could all feel sorry for me at the same time :) Summer did clean it up (no way was I going to clean it up) but my London Broil was overcooked and the mashed potatoes got a little softer than I would have liked. Sigh.

Someone emailed me the other day about my "perfect, all-together life." :)
This should dispel that rumor!

Love to all!
Heidi

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

On the radio!

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:52:00 -0500

Yesterday was a lot of fun ... here's the snipit from the front page of the WATCH website. Hope you can make it this weekend!

Hear the radio interview with Diana Waring and Jay & Heidi St. John on the popular christian radio program "Live in Seattle" with Thor Tolo which aired Monday, July 30th. We spent the hour talking about the upcoming WATCH conference and answering questions about homeschooling.

LISTEN NOW

Homeschool Conference Aug 3&4! Ya'll Come Now, Ya Hear?

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 00:49:00 -0500

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!

www.calvaryfellowship.org

23302 56th Ave W
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
(425) 775-3422
Get directions

August 3 & 4, 2007

Where is My Journal?

Sat, 7 Jul 2007 01:53:00 -0500

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.

As If We Needed ONE more reason...

Thu, 5 Jul 2007 22:46:00 -0500

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

Heidi St. John
FCHM

Mother Day: Redeeming Our Time

Sat, 12 May 2007 14:24:00 -0500

Happy Mother's Day, Blog Friends!

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 108^th 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