This next Conference is yet another perspective.
I'm not organizing, and I'm not an attendee. Instead, I am speaking
This week, my question for God is "How do I decrease what I want to share to make it fit the hour time allotment?!
Certainly the longer one does something, the more they have to say about it! Ideas, examples, and ways of approaching something come to mind in droves!. Taking 22 years of homeschooling and trying to boil it down to one hour is quite the task, even if it is a specific area, such as special needs.
I look at even one slide and think to myself, "That could be made into a talk all by itself!" I think "Oh, that would make a great example to emphasize that point." I think "Oh, that really gets to the heart of home educating our kids with special needs - I have to include that!" I think, "Well, I could take that out, but some people really need to hear the research studies..."
So, this week, I am looking at my Power Points, going over my talks, and seeking God's wisdom in what to chop out! And leave time for Q and A! And what about the handouts? And don't forget to take the clicker. And for goodness sakes, don't forget the usb stick...
Thursday 27 April 2017
Monday 24 April 2017
The Conference
Where do you even begin to talk about a Conference that has been over a year in the making and lasts nine hours?
I'm thinking there isn't much to say actually.
The brain is in debrief mode, and going on to next year.
From the organizing side of a conference the joy is in seeing the speakers arrive, the chairs all filled, people staying after the session to ask questions, speakers having felt they made a difference, and vendor tables busy.
The real joy would be to hear that lives were touched, people were encouraged, equipped, and inspired. The impetus to do this again would be to hear that people have chosen to homeschool or continue to homeschool maybe through high school, because of something they heard or the dynamic environment they were in.
And so, we go on to next year - although much of it is already in motion.
I'm thinking there isn't much to say actually.
The brain is in debrief mode, and going on to next year.
From the organizing side of a conference the joy is in seeing the speakers arrive, the chairs all filled, people staying after the session to ask questions, speakers having felt they made a difference, and vendor tables busy.
The real joy would be to hear that lives were touched, people were encouraged, equipped, and inspired. The impetus to do this again would be to hear that people have chosen to homeschool or continue to homeschool maybe through high school, because of something they heard or the dynamic environment they were in.
And so, we go on to next year - although much of it is already in motion.
Thursday 20 April 2017
Eye Strain?
I was talking to a friend this morning, and she shared a little inspirational quote from her devotioanl last night.
Here it is...
"No one ever got eye strian from looking on the bright side of things!"
Here it is...
"No one ever got eye strian from looking on the bright side of things!"
Gumption Number 2
Gumption and gusto to go through the goo,
I wrote a poem last year, but here's number two.
Workers are injured, the help has declined
I'm really not sure what God has in mind.
Homeschool conferences coming up fast
Logistics and details seem so vast
HDMI and VGA,
PowerPoints and clickers rule the day.
And then there's the first weekend in May
Anna-Lee going to Quiz far away
And yet in a concert that very same day
Unfortunately for quizzing, she just cannot stay.
Hamilton, Bancroft and Ottawa too
Parents are flying; that weekend's a zoo
Mom's brain seems to be all over the map
She thinks she needs to take a long nap.
There's buses to cancel, pot lucks to cook
Appointments to make, MRI to book
Speeches to give, Sunday School to prepare
paint to pick out, and Monday night prayer
So gumption and gusto have deflated a bit
She certainly needs a dose of true grit
A smile from a friend, a laugh from a game
These all help to keep mamma sane.
Keeping the mind stayed upon Him
Gives perfect peace filled to the brim
I'm not at that point, but on my way
In order to meet the goo of today!
I wrote a poem last year, but here's number two.
Workers are injured, the help has declined
I'm really not sure what God has in mind.
Homeschool conferences coming up fast
Logistics and details seem so vast
HDMI and VGA,
PowerPoints and clickers rule the day.
And then there's the first weekend in May
Anna-Lee going to Quiz far away
And yet in a concert that very same day
Unfortunately for quizzing, she just cannot stay.
Hamilton, Bancroft and Ottawa too
Parents are flying; that weekend's a zoo
Mom's brain seems to be all over the map
She thinks she needs to take a long nap.
There's buses to cancel, pot lucks to cook
Appointments to make, MRI to book
Speeches to give, Sunday School to prepare
paint to pick out, and Monday night prayer
So gumption and gusto have deflated a bit
She certainly needs a dose of true grit
A smile from a friend, a laugh from a game
These all help to keep mamma sane.
Keeping the mind stayed upon Him
Gives perfect peace filled to the brim
I'm not at that point, but on my way
In order to meet the goo of today!
Monday 17 April 2017
The New Game
I have not laughed this much or this deeply since we went to see "Through the Looking Glass" a few years ago at the NAC Theatre! The kind of laughter that has tears streaming down your face, stomach muscles aching, and completely unable to talk.
The reason for this laughter is our new game.
Similar to the old party game of telephone this one is called Telestrations.
This game has whiteboard kind of booklets given to each player. You are given a word to draw, flip page and pass it on and the next person writes the word they think the drawing is of, pass it on again, and the next person draws the word they read, pass it on and the next person writes what they think the drawing is... on and on until the end of the 8 page booklet.
Best with at least 5 people playing we have seen...
an umbilical cord turn into a lawn mower, a sponge cake turn into a balloon man getting a bucket of water dumped on his head, vitamins turned into bumble bees zapping a vase of flowers and my all time favorite a truck turned into fungus on a fallen tree. One of my hardest and longest laughs was due to a picture that looked like a rock smoking a cigar!
Although this was Monica's birthday gift, it has been a super gift to the rest of us too as Grandparents have been laughing just as hard as me and the girls.
The reason for this laughter is our new game.
Similar to the old party game of telephone this one is called Telestrations.
This game has whiteboard kind of booklets given to each player. You are given a word to draw, flip page and pass it on and the next person writes the word they think the drawing is of, pass it on again, and the next person draws the word they read, pass it on and the next person writes what they think the drawing is... on and on until the end of the 8 page booklet.
Best with at least 5 people playing we have seen...
an umbilical cord turn into a lawn mower, a sponge cake turn into a balloon man getting a bucket of water dumped on his head, vitamins turned into bumble bees zapping a vase of flowers and my all time favorite a truck turned into fungus on a fallen tree. One of my hardest and longest laughs was due to a picture that looked like a rock smoking a cigar!
Although this was Monica's birthday gift, it has been a super gift to the rest of us too as Grandparents have been laughing just as hard as me and the girls.
Friday 14 April 2017
Good Friday 2017
Good Friday is the only day on the calendar that remains untouched by our culture and totally dedicated to Jesus Christ.
No Santa, no Easter bunny, no costumes and candy, no little cherubs with arrows...
Written about 1,000 years before Christ, it's prophetic, eye opening, and also victorious.
Back in Jesus day, there were no numbers and chapters and verses to Scripture. Rabbis, when teaching Scripture, would ask a child to recite a passage by speaking the first sentence.
For example, instead of saying "Joey, recite Psalm 23", they would say, "Joey, recite The Lord is my Shepherd."
When Jesus hung on the cross He spoke these words....
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
I would put forth that indeed God had not forsaken Jesus, but rather, Jesus was reciting the first sentence of Psalm 22.
Everyone present would know the whole Psalm....
... and be amazed, astounded, and in awe, of what Jesus had just proclaimed from the cross.
Please take a few moments and read through Psalm 22 and join me in offering our heart of thanks to our Lord, our Saviour, our King.
No Santa, no Easter bunny, no costumes and candy, no little cherubs with arrows...
Written about 1,000 years before Christ, it's prophetic, eye opening, and also victorious.
Back in Jesus day, there were no numbers and chapters and verses to Scripture. Rabbis, when teaching Scripture, would ask a child to recite a passage by speaking the first sentence.
For example, instead of saying "Joey, recite Psalm 23", they would say, "Joey, recite The Lord is my Shepherd."
When Jesus hung on the cross He spoke these words....
"My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
I would put forth that indeed God had not forsaken Jesus, but rather, Jesus was reciting the first sentence of Psalm 22.
Everyone present would know the whole Psalm....
... and be amazed, astounded, and in awe, of what Jesus had just proclaimed from the cross.
Please take a few moments and read through Psalm 22 and join me in offering our heart of thanks to our Lord, our Saviour, our King.
Psalm 22
For the director of music. To the tune of “The Doe of the Morning.” A psalm of David.
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
Why are you so far from saving me,
so far from my cries of anguish?
2 My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,
by night, but I find no rest.
3 Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;
you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
you are the one Israel praises.[c]
4 In you our ancestors put their trust;
they trusted and you delivered them.
5 To you they cried out and were saved;
in you they trusted and were not put to shame.
6 But I am a worm and not a man,
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
scorned by everyone, despised by the people.
7 All who see me mock me;
they hurl insults, shaking their heads.
8 “He trusts in the Lord,” they say,
“let the Lord rescue him.
Let him deliver him,
since he delights in him.”
9 Yet you brought me out of the womb;
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.
10 From birth I was cast on you;
from my mother’s womb you have been my God.
11 Do not be far from me,
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
for trouble is near
and there is no one to help.
12 Many bulls surround me;
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth[d] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.
13 Roaring lions that tear their prey
open their mouths wide against me.
14 I am poured out like water,
and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart has turned to wax;
it has melted within me.
15 My mouth[d] is dried up like a potsherd,
and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;
you lay me in the dust of death.
16 Dogs surround me,
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce[e] my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
a pack of villains encircles me;
they pierce[e] my hands and my feet.
17 All my bones are on display;
people stare and gloat over me.
18 They divide my clothes among them
and cast lots for my garment.
19 But you, Lord, do not be far from me.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
You are my strength; come quickly to help me.
20 Deliver me from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dogs.
21 Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;
save me from the horns of the wild oxen.
22 I will declare your name to my people;
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
in the assembly I will praise you.
23 You who fear the Lord, praise him!
All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!
Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!
24 For he has not despised or scorned
the suffering of the afflicted one;
he has not hidden his face from him
but has listened to his cry for help.
25 From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;
before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
before those who fear you[f] I will fulfill my vows.
26 The poor will eat and be satisfied;
those who seek the Lord will praise him—
may your hearts live forever!
27 All the ends of the earth
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
will remember and turn to the Lord,
and all the families of the nations
will bow down before him,
28 for dominion belongs to the Lord
and he rules over the nations.
29 All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—
those who cannot keep themselves alive.
30 Posterity will serve him;
future generations will be told about the Lord.
31 They will proclaim his righteousness,
declaring to a people yet unborn:
He has done it!
Wednesday 12 April 2017
Genesis Question #3
It's been a while since I've addressed our Genesis Questions from Sunday School.
We've had two weeks of Purim and one week of Scirpture and teaching and partaking of communion..
However, we have done a couple more Genesis chapter 1 questions.
Today, I'll share Question 3.
Where did the light come from on day 1, if the sun wasn't created until day 4?
It seems we must discover another source of light other than the sun and stars!
And so, we put our minds to work and the kids came up with...
- bio-luminescence (you know, deep sea angler fish and glow worms...)
- lightning
- flashlights
- electricity
- Revelation 21:23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.
- 1 Tim 6:16 who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen
- Luke 2:8,9 "An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were terrified.
- Acts 9:4-6 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
- 1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all
OK, we read a few more, but the point is God is Light. In our new heaven and new earth that we read about in Revelation , we will have no need for sun and moon as He will be the Light source.
I guess that answers Question number 3.
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