Hamilton, Homeschooling and Help!

If I could have a penny for every butterfly....! Or I suppose it is a nickel these days.

For the last many months I have been steadily preparing to speak at the Ontario Homeschool Conference held in Hamilton. The topic was to be Homeschooling our children with Special Needs: a broad topic indeed. As the weeks grew closer the butterflies started the migratory pathway appearing in little groups here and there.

THE weekend finally arrived, the people were in place here at home to take over all the tasks normal to "Mom and Dad." Dave and I took off bright and early Thursday morning in our 14 year old car with the newly non-functioning air conditioner helping us to reminisce about our very first car 28 years ago - a Honda Accord with no air conditioner.- and bopping down the highways with the windows wide open.

Once we arived at the hotel, it felt a bit like the day before a final exam. Looking at my binder that held my notes, I decided I had spent enough time preparing though and set it all aside choosing to pray, spend time with Dave, and just let thoughts roll around in my head.

Friday, another batch of butterflies started arriving. Ignoring most of them, Dave and I went for a nice quiet walk in the morning - and saw a sweet brown bunny in the grass. Arriving at the Conference we got our package, (if you choose to accept this mission... oh wait! I already had accepted it!), and we both went to a couple of other people's sessions as I wasn't speaking until later that afternoon. Great sessions, learned a lot. No matter how many times I go to a Homeschooling Conference I always come away with some nuggets of truth, inspiration and ideas.

Sitting outside in the warm sunshine after lunch with a good friend who was also there to do a session was quite a lovely way to relax before the talk - however now the butterflies must be in season! It was time to head up to the classroom. My greatest concern was that I would not be able to answer the questions that would be asked, primarily because special needs is such a wide topic and every household and every person is different. What works for one does not work for another - thus the beauty of homeschooling!
Who would have thought - before I could even start my session the first snag came! The person in charge of recording didn't show up! I just would  not have thought of that as a possible concern!
After the time keeper texted and went searching the hallways - he finally arrived. I had used the extra time to get to know the attendees - how many were homeschooling now, how many just thinking about it, how many had preschool, elementary, middle or high school kids that were special needs...

Butterflies kept coming however the recording person came and handed me all the technology, assuming I of course knew what to do with it. I had to explain that I was visually impaired and really didn't see all the gadgets he was handing me! I put one thing on upside down, then dropped it as I was trying to flip it! I couldn't believe my hands were actually shaking! I think it was a reaction to adrenaline!

And then I was off and running and the butterflies never did catch up. I actually enjoy speaking to a group of people. It's just wanting the audience to be blessed and feel that they are receiving what they need that has me feeling the pressure.

Email me if you want more details of the Conference...

Sunday was a music concert with the wind ensemble my 11 year old daughter is a part of.  We were running a bit late due to church ending late, driving the older daughter home and getting her set up with lunch, going back to church to pick up four  girls, stopping at Subway for lunch and then...
the call

"I'm lying on  my back in the backyard and the wheelchair is flipped on it's side. Help!"

To be Continued in the next blog...