I’m going through a bible study on prayer right now and, although it has been only two weeks, I’ve learned so much.  I thought it would teach me the hows and instead it is teaching me the whys.

“So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who seeks finds, and to him who knocks the door will be opened.”

Luke 11:9-10

Do you read these verses and pray for your heart’s desire?  It says I just have to ask and it will be given to me.  Yet, in the past, I have asked and all has not been given to me.

Now, don’t think I’m asking for the moon – but for simple things, like a good homeschool day, for finances to come together, or for a relationship to be healed.

I pray earnestly for those things on my list…I ask often. And yet, so many remain unanswered, or are answered with a no.

As I’m studying God’s word more deeply on prayer though, I’m beginning to understand that my prayer time shouldn’t be a checklist of things to cover.

Not that I shouldn’t come to Him with my requests because He certainly desires that, but that my prayer time should be a sweet offering to Him.  He has invited ME to come sit with Him and BE STILL.

My time with Him should be asking for His will to be done.  I should allow the Spirit to search me and groan for me the things that I can not lift up {Romans 8:26:34}.

I should be seeking to make sure I am abiding in Him so that I can KNOW His will …and so that I can bear fruit.

I’m looking forward to the remaining weeks of the study.  It has been such a blessing already!

Interested in joining along?  The book is Becoming a Woman of Prayer.

Becoming a Woman of Prayer Bible Study is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

When I first started educating the boys, I had grand ideas, mostly gleaned from other homeschool parents. We were going to take loads of field trips, join multiple co-ops, do some lapbooking, and work on over-the-top projects. Because that’s what the majority of homeschoolers do, right?

When these projects did not come to pass, I began to beat myself up over it. That resulted in my doubting my abilities to homeschool, which led me to seriously consider enrolling the boys in public school.

I was ready to chuck it all in because I compared myself to other homeschoolers. I am a relatively confident person but homeschooling was about to do me in.

Worst.feeling.ever.

Something had to change.

To get my head back into homeschooling, I took a week off from teaching and planning. The boys caught up on reading and I sat down to develop reasonable, attainable goals.

I did an honest assessment of what we could achieve during the year, how we could do it, and in what time frame.

MOST IMPORTANTLY: I scrubbed my mind clean of what other homeschoolers were doing and concentrated on my boys and their needs.

The result?

Some happy kids and an even happier mom. A no-pressure homeschool — but one where we achieve a lot. Maybe not French lessons or 4H… but hey – if you grade a fish on his ability to climb a tree, he’ll flunk every time. We set realistic expectations and push ourselves to achieve realistic goals – which makes my kids (and me) feel GOOD. Success breeds success.

I belong to several homeschool groups on social media and I have to refrain from commenting when a question is asked about curriculum choices and activities. Homeschooling is such a personal choice that I don’t feel qualified to comment other than to point out that it is a personal choice.

It’s okay to take advice from other homeschoolers, but the final decision on how YOUR homeschool will LOOK rests with you.

Will we ever do a lapbooking project and create a model of the solar system? Maybe.

In the meantime, I am not going to sweat it.

Peace and love to all,

How Should Your Homeschool Look? is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

Are you having crazy weather this winter?  Here in the Midwest we’ve hardly had any snow and more warm days than cold.  But soup is my favorite meal this time of year and this one is quick, easy, and flavorful!  Hope you enjoy it, too!

Baked Potato Soup

• 5 large baking potatoes
• 1 onion, diced
• 1-2 T butter
• 3 cups skim milk
• 1 pint fat-free half and half
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon pepper
• shredded cheddar cheese
• bacon, cooked {I use turkey bacon}

Bake or microwave the potatoes until done.  Let cool.  Cut into pieces and set aside.

In dutch oven, melt butter and saute onions.  Add potatoes, milk, half and half, salt, and pepper.  Cook until heated through.

Serve with shredded cheese and crumbled bacon on top.

Note:  If the texture of the skin would bother you, just scoop out the potato and don’t use the skin.  We like it with the skin, though.

Baked Potato Soup with Bacon – a Yummy Homeschool Lunch is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

Once upon a time there was a homeschool mom that needed encouragement. So she gathered up her teenage boy, her drooly little nursing one year old baby, an umbrella stroller, her laptop, the camera bag, and her iPhone and headed to Dallas to hear Sally Clarkson and her team of cheerleaders speak uplifting things.

She met up with another homeschool mom who was needing encouragement, too. And they had dinner at Chili’s; where the nicest waiter in the world happened to work. He even brought the teen boy an adult sized soda and happened to have a spoon for the baby’s pureed sweet potatoes. Fancy that!

He thought they were a little weird for taking his picture (and we warned him that it would end up on the internet)…

On the way back to the hotel, they stopped to get a coffee (for Kelly), a tea (for Heather) and a double chocolate chip frappe for the teen boy. The baby wasn’t so encouraged by not getting a drink, but he made do with watered down Sprite and had no idea they were tricking him out of excess sugar.

The big kid enjoyed making fun of Starbucks for having their signage out. Star Co sounds rather cosmic and mysterious!

It was fun chatting about blogging and homeschooling… enjoying a leisurely evening with a friend who can relate… and tucking little baby-man in under a poofy hotel comforter after he pretended to call home to Daddy.

Tomorrow promises to be fantastic — as these two homeschool moms get to hear messages that will bless them in their resolve to be the best homeschool moms they can be. Hopefully they will continue on this amazing journey happily ever after.

More on the Mom Heart Conference later! Until then…

and    

Once Upon a Homeschool Mom’s Conference Get-Away Time… is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

REMINDER:

If you’re too focused on the

Big Picture

You’ll miss out on the

Moments

Enjoy the Moments is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

Homeschooling in Texas is awesome – because Texans are free of excess regulation that weigh on parents. The last thing you need when homeschooling is red tape! Another great thing about Texas is all the homeschool related events… from conferences to homeschool days at our amusement parks and museums – there’s so much to see and do in the Lone Star State.

Below is a list of events in Texas that homeschool families will benefit from – but it is by far not complete. If you know of other events in Texas, just let us know and we’ll add them to this post.

This is also a good time to announce that a new feature here at The Homeschool Post will be an Upcoming Events calendar of sorts in our sidebar. I know that many of us would love to take advantage of all that the homeschooling world offers, but remembering it all is next to impossible.

For those of you in Texas, I hope you are able to enjoy the following events. For the rest of you, look out for the forthcoming Upcoming Events sidebar for great homeschooling-related opportunities in your area.

• Carole Joy Seid Seminar – Begin With the End in Mind

March 10, 2012
9:30 AM – 5 PM
Carrollton

http://blog.carolejoyseid.com/

• West Texas Family Conference and Book Fair

April 27 – 28, 2012
San Angelo

San Angelo Christian Homeschool Association
http://sachsa.org/

• Arlington 28th Annual Book Fair

May 11-12, 2012
Arlington Convention Center

One of the largest book fairs in Texas.

Shop for books, attend workshops, meet other homeschoolers, be encouraged.

The Home School Book Fair is all about helping families find what they need to home school their children. It is a Christian event sponsored by Hearth & Home Ministries, and every effort is made to ensure that products and workshops are compatible with Biblical principles. It is also very much a family affair. Many faithful families have helped to put it on for nearly three decades. It was begun in 1985 by Kirk and Beverly McCord. Hearth & Home Ministries is their ministry to Texas home schoolers. All through the years the Lord’s guiding hand has been on this event, as thousands of families have been encouraged and equipped to home school their children and raise them for Him. Come find the answers, enjoy the blessings and be encouraged!

Hearth & Home Ministries
http://www.homeschoolbookfair.org

• FEAST Homeschool Convention and Curriculum Fair

May 18-19, 2012
San Antonio

Over Sixty Workshops to choose from featuring Guest Speakers on subjects that cover a range of home schooling issues such as getting started with home schooling, home and family, marriage, child training, organization, teaching tips, curriculum, college, Christian worldview and more. Thirty of those workshops will be presented by publisher representatives that can teach the nuts and bolts on customizing their curriculum to fit your student’s specific needs.

Shop the exhibit halls for all of your home schooling needs. As the homeschooling community continues to grow, so does the home school curriculum market. Choosing from the many home schooling curriculum options available can be overwhelming to both new and experienced home schoolers. Mary James, President of Smoothing the Way will be here to teach you how to evaluate your teaching style as well as your child’s learning style so that you know Which way do I go to find the booths that will have the curriculum you need.

Family Educators Alliance of South Texas (FEAST)
http://www.homeschoolfeast.com/

• 2012 San Antonio Catholic Homeschool Conference

San Antonio
May 18 – 19, 2012
Antonian Catholic Preparatory High School

• Keynote speaker — Dr. Ray Guarendi, clinical psychologist & homeschooling father of 10
• Encouraging speakers & practical topics, like frugal living, organization & lesson planning
• Engaging panel discussions, such as special needs & curriculum methods
• Vendor hall including Seton Home Study School & more
• Raffles & door prizes, including raffle for private lunch with Dr. Ray
• Activities for children & teens on Saturday
• Eucharistic Adoration, Confession, and Saturday Vigil Mass
• Parents night with motivational speaker & dessert on Friday
• Register now online for only $20! This discounted Early Bird price ends on February 29, 2012!

http://sacatholichomeschool.org/

• CHEACT 25th Annual Home Educators Conference and Book Fair

Austin
June 22 – 23, 2012
Palmer Events Center

Christian Home Education Association of Central Texas
www.cheact.org

• Immaculate Heart of Mary Dallas Home School and Parent Conference

July 27-28, 2012
Arlington Convention Center

So… Why go to such an event? If you are new to Catholic homeschooling or are curious about it, a conference is simply an invaluable experience. Not only do speakers explain the basics of homeschooling and elaborate on some of the motivations behind doing it, and not only does examining the vendor materials allow you an unrivaled opportunity to look through the pages of actual homeschooling text books and lesson plans, but also, even more importantly, you get to see and meet numerous other Catholic homeschooling families.

IHM – Dallas Home School and Parent Conference
http://www.ihmconference.org/northtexas

• THSC State Convention

August 2-4, 2012
The Woodlands

Our NEWLY EXPANDED exhibit hall will feature a wide variety of vendors. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to browse, preview, shop, and learn all you can about these excellent home school curricula and services.

Why is it important to purchase my curriculum at the Convention? Vendors who exhibit at the Convention play a big part in making the event possible. They have spent their time and money to come and be available to answer your questions and educate you on their curricula. THSC encourages attendees to patronize these vendors by planning to buy onsite.

THSC – Texas Homeschool Coalition
www.thsc.org/

Let me know if I have forgotten any Texas events of if there are any upcoming homeschooling events in your area that you would like added to the soon-to-come Upcoming Events sidebar section in the comments or in an email – thehomeschoolpost @ gmail . com

Credits: These photos are from last year’s THSC 2011 Woodlands Convention and were taken by our very own Heather and Jenn. They are great event and conference photographers!

Upcoming Texas Homeschool Events is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

This post is part of our monthly series highlighting books and activities from the Five In A Row (FIAR) curriculum.

This month’s FIAR feature is Katy and the Big Snow by Virginia Lee Burton. Katy is a big red crawler tractor and any child with an interest in trucks is going to love this book. The illustrations are wonderful – there’s so much to see on every page. One page is outlined with smaller pictures of more than 20 different kinds of trucks! You could read this book time and time again and still finding something new.

With all that going on, there are a lot of activities you could choose to complement this book. You could discuss seasons and all the jobs that trucks (and people!) do each season. You could talk about community services and all the people needed to run a city.  You could talk about weather and snow. You could talk about art and charcoal drawing. You could talk about the literary device of personifying Katy the tractor.

But I love maps, so the activity I want to highlight today is map reading. There’s a simple map of the town of Geoppolis on pages 6-7 of the book. Spend some time on this map, pointing out the compass. If you have a compass at home, take it outside and have your child move around your house to determine what direction your house is facing. It’s even more fun to bring the compass along for a car ride around town.  It’s fascinating to see what direction you are headed in – you will sometimes be surprised!

Take some time going through the numbered flags on the map of Geoppolis. Ask your child to find all the city buildings and also point out where there might be houses, farms, and railroads. Finally, have your child create a map of your own city or neighborhood. This is also a great time to get out an atlas or any other maps you have around the house and introduce your child to road maps, legend,s and more.  I recommend the National Geographic Beginners World Atlas — a must-have for any homeschool library.

FIAR: Make a Map of Your Town with Katy and the Big Snow is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

This year’s FIRST Homeschool Swap is finally here! I know that the swap blesses so many of us homeschooling moms. Here are a few things that you should pay close attention to if you are interested in participating. PLEASE MAKE SURE TO READ THIS POST COMPLETELY.

Here’s the skinny:

1. Sometimes swappers never return their questions on the initial email. I am not sure why – but we don’t have the desire or the time to bug everyone on email, so we just let it go. If you are planning to swap, you might go in and make thehomeschoolpost at gmail dot com your friend so the spam catcher won’t send us to cyber-jail in your email client. When we don’t get enough swappers to reply and there’s an odd number (someone left without a partner), one of our authors usually fills in or drops out. You have a week to get your questions back to us on average, so please be prompt. We pair you on the order in which we get your replies. This way, God does the matching, not us. {We don’t believe in accidents!}

2. In past swaps, some swappers have said that they never got a package. One was a mix up with the post office, but there are still some packages out there that haven’t been sent on this last swap and even older ones. We hate blacklisting wonderful ladies from participating, so PLEASE send your box or at least let one of us at the Post know you can’t – so we can try and get one in the mail for your swap sister. Don’t be afraid of contacting us to help you resolve the issue. We will email your partner and ask her if she forgot for you if you are too shy. We want to make sure everyone gets a box!

Here’s a bit of advice for those who don’t get a box by the deadline:

*Please email your swap partner and ask her if everything is ok. Sometimes it is as simple as her losing your information or forgetting!

*Please allow for late packages – because we all need a little grace. Email reminders won’t be looked down on, either. I know I can use an email reminder for just about EVERYTHING in my life. Don’t be afraid to speak up. Chances are, your swap sister is a great person (She’s homeschooling her kids, isn’t she? She reads the Post, right?) – send her an email!

*Please pray for your swap partner: sounds strange, but one of our swappers was late sending out her swap recently because she had lost her mom. You never know what might have happened that could have delayed your package.

*Don’t give up on swapping just because you have one unfavorable swap. It is very rare that packages don’t get sent – even though it is very common that they get mailed late.

3. You don’t have to email us your links any more. Instead, we will be hosting a swap post LINKY instead. Last swap I was unable to put up a swap post linky due to family illnesses, but this go around you will be able post on your own blog pictures of your swappy goodness and the share the link with the rest of us! With the amount of swappers we have now, this will save us time and it will be more colorful and fun, I think! I hope you’ll agree.

Have you ever joined the Homeschool Swap before? If you haven’t, you are missing out. Swapping a little gift in the mail once every two months with another homeschool mom is FUN – and a great way to get to know other homeschool blogging mamas.

Are YOU interested in getting a groovy care package in the mail (instead of bills)? Leave a comment below to let us know you want to participate. It’s ever so easy. Make sure to leave a valid email address. We’ll send you a questionnaire and pair you with another swapper. When you get your package, just take a picture of the contents and post about it on your blog. How easy is that?!

Be sure to put the dates below on your calendar so you don’t forget them!

Here’s the schedule:

SIGN UP: By February 25th
PAIRED UP: By March 3rd
MAIL SWAP: By March 24th
POST PHOTOS: April 7th
NEXT SWAP: April 14th!

We’re giving you two weeks to sign up. Be sure to leave a comment on this post with a valid email address if you want to participate. Photograph your loot when it arrives and post a thank you on your blog. Come back here to include your blog link on our linky in April!  Mark your dates on your calendars! I know everyone is busy, but please try and not spoil the fun for your partner by dropping the ball.

We will be starting a new swap up April so if you aren’t able to participate this time, you can look forward to the next one!

Don’t know what a swap is? Click on the Saturday Swap category on our sidebar and see some of our past swaps. Our very first one was October 2007.

Important: Stumble, Facebook and Tweet this post (our twitter account is @hsbapost) to help gather up all the swap-loving homeschoolers you know!

We hope you’ll join in the fun! Spread the news and ask your homeschool friends to join.

Here are the basic rules for every swap:

1. Don’t offer to participate and sign up if you can’t get the gift in the mail on time (you have more than 2 months).
2. Don’t spend more than 15$ on your swap gift (not including postage). You will end up making your buddy feel like they didn’t give enough to you.
3. Get to know your swap buddy – email them! Pray for them! Send them a Bible verse! Email them!
4. Do NOT share your swap buddies’ personal information (last names or addresses) with anyone else.
5. Make sure you post a photo and thank you for your swap sister – and link to her blog.
6. Come back here and link up your swap post.

Suggestion: Please make sure you take extra care when packaging your gifts if they are breakable or fragile. We have had swap gifts damaged by UPS or the Postal Service.

Who’s in???

The MARCH and APRIL Homeschool Swap! is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

I had to say it and it had to come out. “I’m done.”

There I was, surrounded by noise and chaos and clutter.

This wasn’t the life I had wanted. This was not what I thought it would be like. My dreams as a new bride, my visions of perfection, were gone and instead I was surrounded by child-people who always took but rarely gave back. I was their mother and this was my home… but it was too much. Who could I hand in my resignation to?

“I’m done.” I repeated to no-one in-particular.

This time I knew that something would have to change or this life, this journey I was on, would be nothing more than a mess.

I stepped into the laundry room and shut the door. I wanted to scream, yell, stomp my feet.

I sat down next to the piles of dirty towels. What else could I say? What could be done that would help?

I could not give an answer.

“God. Father. LORD!” I whispered in the dark. “Where are YOU?” The soft, folded towels and dirty clothes were silent accusers.

“Have you left?”

Waiting on the floor, I sat. I sat. And sat. The machines continued to spin.

Where was He? Maybe He had abandoned me as it seemed everyone else had. But no. That couldn’t be possible. I had just read it in His Word today. Where was it?

I went to find my worn, maroon-colored Bible. Thumbing through it, I traced my finger over the promise. There.

“Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.” ~ Psalm 9:10

Trust: a hard term for someone who wants to steer her life into that earlier vision of perfection. Reality had set in and I had lost my vision. I had lost my grip on what was true.

Trusting Him implies the total (and perhaps painful) sacrifice of my way and it takes me recognizing that God is (and always has been) the holder – the director – of my life.

It is not a one-time giving over of control. No.

This trust requires daily and conscious squelching of our internal power struggle. Yet, it has to be done.

After all, why would He forsake one who implicitly trusts Him with her very life and work and desires and tears.

He does not. He will not.

Laundry will overflow. School books and practice sheets will be lost. Walls will become works of Crayola art. Children will fight and lie and do all of the things we sinners seem to do best. Dinner will be late. You will have arguments with your spouse. You will get sick. People will hurt you.

This will all happen. But He will not forsake you.

Will you trust?

Photo credit: yenhoon

*********************

This originally appeared on my blog, Wisdom Begun, August, 2011.

Trust is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved

It is often necessary for mothers to take a step back and breathe. Amid the daily tedium of homeschooling, housework, diapers, teenage emotions, and relationships with our spouses, our little worlds can overwhelm us. There are many times when I have to tell myself, “Just breathe, Kelly. In and out. Just breathe.” If we don’t want to end up as a snapping and wrath-filled mother, wife, and friend, we must be careful to tend to our souls.

A few years ago I began reading some books written by a woman who had been highly spoken of by those in my social circle. As I read her books, I understood why her words were so recommended. Page after page my heart, soul, and mind were nourished and healed and challenged. I saw my work as a mother to be what God intends it to be and He renewed me to move forward in tying those relationships with my children as close to my heart as possible.

This woman is Sally Clarkson, and if you have not read any of her books, I highly recommend them. Single mother or married, you will find refreshment. Older children, younger, or in between, you will see anew the importance of mothering your children. You will also be encouraged in that Sally desires us each to be individual mothers and not mothers trying to imitate cookie-cutter moms.

Her books are:

• The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child’s Heart for Eternity
• The Ministry of Motherhood: Following Christ’s Example in Reaching the Hearts of Our Children
• Seasons of a Mother’s Heart, 2nd edition

Another book, Dancing with My Father: How God Leads Us into a Life of Grace and Joy, will encourage all women, not just mothers.

Now, these books are wonderful, but I have even better news. You can hear Sally in person, February 17 & 18, 2012, in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. The theme for this year’s conference is integral to the heart of a homeschooling mother: The Heartshaping Mom ~ How to Open, Fill, and Hold Your Child’s Heart.

“Since 1998, this two-day conference and getaway has been a bright light in the gray days of winter for thousands of Christian moms in nearly 50 conferences in eight states. Sally Clarkson is a faithful champion for biblical motherhood, and this year her message for moms is personal and powerful. She will share her life-learned heartshaping secrets for how to open, fill, and hold the hearts of your children. She will be joined by other moms who share her passion for motherhood in messages, testimonies, and panel discussions.”

Make sure to visit the Mom Heart Conference DFW page to learn more. I hope to see you there!

Disclaimer: All above Amazon links are affiliate links. I will earn a small commission of any purchases made through these links. Thanks for supporting a homeschooling mom!

The Heartshaping Mom is a post from: The HSBA Post
© 2012 The Homeschool Post | All rights reserved