NCHE Homeschool Conference

We spent Thursday thru Saturday at the NCHE Homeschool Conference and Bookfair in Winston-Salem. This was my 14th consecutive year attending the conference ~ hard to believe but true. It is something I look forward to each spring... a way to "fill my tank" as we come to the end of one school year and prepare to start another. Some years I find the workshops inspiring and motivating ~ this was one of those years that I was less enthused by the speakers I heard. Actually, it was the workshop topics that didn't hold as much interest for me this year. But there were a few nuggets. Tracy Klicka, homeschool mom and wife of HSLDA attorney, Chris Klicka, gave a talk called
"I Think I'll Quit Homeschooling: Five Reasons Why Moms Quit School and How You Can Keep From Becoming a Dropout". Now, I'm not thinking of quitting. But Tracy made some great comments that hit home. Here are some of my notes:

5 Reasons Why Moms Quit Homeschooling

#1 Forgetting God's Call; Losing Our Vision

- does God call us to raise our children for Him?
- has he led us to homeschooling as part of that calling?
- Remember what really matters! Academics is only part of the big picture!
Deuteronomy 4:9 Only be careful and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. [ oh, how easily we forget! are you writing down the things that God has done for you and your family? ] Teach them to your children and to their children after them. [ we are not off the hook even when our children are grown with families of their own - we have a responsibility to our grandchildren as well! ]

#2 Trying to Homeschool in Our Own Strength, and not God's Power

John 15:4-5 Remain in me and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

Praise God that our Heavenly Father is not just our children's teacher, but our teacher as well!

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.

Have you ever said, " I can't do this!" Good! None of us can. But God can do great things through surrendered hearts. Our children belong to him; do you trust Him enough to give control to God, and trust His leading?

2 Corinthians 12: 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." That is why I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.

#3 Focusing More on being a Teacher than on being a Mommy

Proverbs 14:1 The wise woman builds her house, but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.

Ask yourself, "What kind of house am I building?" Before we concern ourselves with what curriculum to use or how to schedule our school day, we should concern ourselves with building a loving relationship with our children!

Read Seasons of a Mother's Heart by Sally Clarkson ( or any Sally Clarkson book ~ I love them all! )


#4 Not Taking the Proper Time for Reaching the Hearts of Our Children or Training Them in Godly Character

learning for learning's sake ( prideful) does not honor the Lord

Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your sould and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."

Mark 8:36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, [ get high Iowa or SAT scores, get into college, earn lots of money ] yet forfeit his soul?

What is your foundation?

Isaiah 33:6 He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the Lord is the key to this treasure.


#5 Stumbling Over Jesus and Having Wrong Expectations for Our Homeschool Life

-again, control is the issue; am I trying to be "king of the hill"?
-even if my desires and goals are good ones, I must yield my life and desires and expectations to the Lord, because his ways are the BEST ways

Isaiah 55:8-9 "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Bottom line - GOD IS SOVEREIGN AND GOOD
Psalm 84-11-12 For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed in the man who trusts in you.

Another excellent speaker was Phil Downer, an attorney, former Marine, father of six, and president of Discipleship Network of America ( DNA ). He gave the keynote address on Saturday morning, titled "Building World-Changing Leaders for Christ". I had been feeling uninspired that morning, and had just prayed on the way into the building , saying, "Lord, speak to me through one of these speakers today. " And shortly thereafter I was in tears, as Phil's words touched my heart.

I browsed the book fair more casually than usual, because I wasn't making any big purchases this year. I have already bought my Tapestry of Grace curriculum for next year. As a result of ordering my curriculum in a "bundle", I also received some gift certificates to the TOG Bookshelf that I plan to redeem for some of the history and literature books that I need for Year 1. Other items I will buy through my local homeschool store. They are having a 15% off sale this week, but even if they weren't, it is more important to me to support this store so that it can remain in business than to save a buck or two at the conference or elsewhere.

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