June 8th & 9th... another successful homeschool conference!  Here's why:

Planned by God

I had no idea how God would work things out last weekend.  I really wanted to go to the NICHE Homeschool Conference up in Des Moines, but I didn't know if I would have to go by myself or if my family would be able to go, too.  The timing was such that we wouldn't know until the very last minute.  Norman had just gotten a job on Fridays at a local care facility fixing their computers, but we hadn't heard yet if he was to start this particular Friday or the next week.  If I did end up going by myself, I would just leave Friday morning and come back that evening.  If Norman and the boys got to go with me, we would get to stay for both days and spend the night at my dad's house.

Finally, we received the word... Norman's job wouldn’t start until the next Friday.  We could ALL go up!  Yay!

Waiting on God's answer had been good for me.  Usually, I am very organized and have everything planned out to the smallest detail.  This time, however, I could only pray and wait.  It was comforting to know that whatever happened over the weekend was truly God's plan... because it was totally out of my hands this time.

God Teaches Through Workshops

I don't go to as many of the workshops as I did in the beginning, but I still learn from the ones that I do attend.  Also, I come away from them encouraged, re-energized, and with a renewed commitment to continue homeschooling.

This particular year, the main workshops that I attended focused on family togetherness, the role of wives, teaching critical thinking skills, and family devotions.  I came away with new ideas to implement and more determination to be the godly wife and mother that God created me to be.

God's Fire Prevention

Maybe this is a critical issue and maybe it isn't... only God knows.  But, by having all of us go up last weekend meant that we would get to stay at my dad's house.  As some of you know, my dad remarried last year (after my mom passed away) and now he and his new wife live in Idaho.  He still has his farm back here in Iowa and they come back every 3 months to check up on things.  They were not at his farm this past weekend, but he said that we could stay there anytime we needed a "bed and breakfast".  J

While we were there last Friday night, Norman noticed something that could become a possible fire hazard.  My dad plugs a lamp into a timer while they are gone.  The plastic housing around the prongs was cracked, exposing bare wires.  When we got back home, we contacted my dad and told him about this.  He said that he wasn't aware of this and had my sister (who lives close by) go over and unplug the lamp, just to be safe.

So, maybe God had us stay at my dad's house for this very reason? 

Shopping List

I was able to buy most of the things on my shopping list for next year's schooling!  This saves so much!  This way, I won't have to pay for shipping, the prices are usually marked down at the vendors' booths, and I am able to shop wisely by being able to check out the wares before purchasing them.  This is one of the main reasons I have for going to the conferences each year... to be able to look inside all of the books.

Plus, I write down ideas for future grades.  This helps me plan ahead by looking to see what all is available and then deciding what would fit our family’s style.

A Connection

This might be the neatest thing of all.  While checking out all the different booths, I came across one called"Wholemovement".  It caught my eye because of all the many 3D creations made out of paper that this man had on display.  It reminded me of projects that our 10-year-old son has made.  I made a note to bring Norman and the boys to this booth later.  You see, the homeschool conference in Des Moines doesn't allow kids under the age of 12 to attend, so I had to wait until it was all over.

When Norman and the boys came to pick me up at 4:00, I immediately took them to this particular booth.  The man explained that all of his creations had been make from round paper plates.  And, although he had folded them into many geometric shapes and designs, he never once cut them.  It was not only awesome, but it did (as I had expected) pique our son's curiosity. 

I wish I could have recorded the whole event that followed.  Our 10-year-old and this elderly man just connected!  They were able to converse on the same level and understood each other.  Our son just opened right up to this gentleman and told him of his own creations, of ideas formulating in his mind, and even explained how things work in his brain.  This man, whom we found out was a sculptor from Chicago, seemed very interested in what our son had to say and even asked us to email pictures of his creations to him.

Sometimes I wonder about our first-born son, who walks "to the beat of a different drummer".  I wonder what God has in store for him.  Maybe this was another important step in that direction, another puzzle piece to fit in.  In a way, I felt like Mary in the Bible, who "kept all these sayings in her heart."

So, I'm very thankful that God allowed all of us to go last weekend.  He has a purpose and it is very rewarding... and successful... when we allow Him to lead and we put our trust in Him.

~Connie~