He gripped me... homeschool curriculum, testing, college courses... oh my!

God totally gripped my heart this weekend. 

I went to a small homeschool conference and the topic was homeschooling through highschool.  I thought that this would be a great time of encouragement and I'll pick up some tips to boot!

The conference got started and for several hours, I heard speaker after speaker talk about the CAT, PSAT, SAT, ACT, college entrance, college courses, college bound, the gap year, tests, test scores, scholarships, money, money, oh yah, and throw God and a little faith into the mix.  Control control control...

As I sat listening to the speakers, all of those letters and facts started swirling around in my head.  My heart started to feel squeezed and anxious.  I thought about preparing our boys for their future and got very intimidated.  I felt inferior to all of these "professional" homeschoolers who have been through the curriculum and sent their children off to college.

For HOURS I sat there, wondering if I can measure up.  Wondering, how on earth am I going to do this?  This doesn't sound like my boys.  They are bright boys, but it just doesn't sit well with me. 

I thought to myself, "...but... but... my goal isn't to get them a high score on their SAT... my goals... what are they?... they are to raise Godly men, God fearing husbands, men who serve in their church and community and love the LORD their God with all their hearts, souls and minds, men who are incredible daddies... awesome men of God... that's my goal."

Finally, the very last speaker got up.  Poor lady, she only had a couple of SHORT minutes to quickly say her piece but I was all ears and AMENing!

She said that our REAL goal should be all of those things that I listed!  She was my Spiritual cheerleader!  (Actually, at this very moment, I am disciplining and need to hear her words.  ... ok, getting a grip!)

Here is a list similar to hers (in no particular order):

• Pray with your children
• Pray over your children
• Help them to hide God's Word in their hearts
• Hug your children (yes, sometimes people need reminded to do that)
• Listen to them
• Read to them no matter how old they are
• Read God's Word with them
• Understand how God has wired them and "train them up in the way they should go" not the way you want them to go
• Serve with your children (at church and in the community)
• Find a mission and help someone - together
• Let them in on some of your struggles and help them to see God at work
• Tell them about God's wonders

Deuteronomy 6:5-9 

5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got!

6-9 Write these commandments that I've given you today on your hearts. Get them inside of you and then get them inside your children.

Talk about them wherever you are, sitting at home or walking in the street; talk about them from the time you get up in the morning to when you fall into bed at night.

Tie them on your hands and foreheads as a reminder; inscribe them on the doorposts of your homes and on your city gates.

After sitting there for several hours, doubting myself, God gave me the shot in the arm that I needed!  He squeezed me until tears poured out of my tired eyes.  After I thanked the speaker and commended her for doing a great job with her children, I went out to my car, called my husband and cried.  I cried on the phone with him for 30 minutes!  I cried to God and thanked Him.  I called my Mom and cried to her.  (By the way, I am SO NOT a cry-er!)

Then, I did what any self respecting woman would do.  I got a Frappe-chino from Star Bucks and went shopping!  (Actually, I have a story about that too!  Read it:  I finally got it!)

He is amazing.  Let God into your homeschool!  Let God raise your children.  Let God...


photos from google images
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