Remeber Why...

I attended the Great Homeschool Convention this weekend. It was an amazing opportunity and served as a great source of encouragement for me and offered a huge amount of resources to take back. And although the resources were nice, the encouragement was amazing. And, it was here that I finally heard someone say that it was okay! I heard someone say, we live in a broken world and it's okay to guard those precious children. 

 Chris and I decided to homeschool for many reasons but first and foremost because God made it very clear that I was going to do this whether I was a teacher or not. Whether I was scared to death or not. Whether I was ready or not. Funny how God does that, isn't it?? And we ARE doing it. It is not always easy...it's a commitment I never would have made without God's push, and I really have NO CLUE what I am doing, but it is and WILL be worth it! I constantly worry about my lack of qualification to school my children, and it was here, this weekend that God showed me, I AM qualified. I don't know that I will ever equip them with ALL the academics they need to do whatever it is God designed them to, but it is my hearts deepest desire to show them Christ. So they KNOW Christ. And teach them to LOVE Christ. I want them to know they are loved and perfect just like they are. They are amazing and that God will use them. In this dark dark world, God has made them a light. I want to teach them to shine their light. Because when the world and academics fail them, God WILL NOT. So this realization in itself was worth the trip! ;) Heidi St. John from The Busy Mom was absolutely wonderful. She spoke on my wave length. And I very much enjoyed her sessions! A few things stick out...way out...after hearing her speak. First, lead by example. Follow The Lord, stay in tuned, and the other "stuff" will work out. The second, REMEMBER WHY you do this! Don't get too caught up in the how and just remember WHY! Last, she emphasized that this homeschooling journey is as much about me as it is about my kids. And boy do I believe that! This is an amazing opportunity I have, and although I didn't see it coming, I am so very very grateful for it! 

I also had the opportunity to see Mark Lowery  speak, pretty fun. He was an overly funny guy! If you don't know, he wrote the very popular song we hear at Christmas, "Mary Did You Know?"...it was amazing to hear the writer of that song sing it. You could literally feel Jesus in that room (not that He isn't always present, but it was just unbelievably palpable). It was amazing. 

I learned a ton, but the most important was to just keep on. Keep God the center of it. If we just show up, God will do the rest. Bring our children to him. We meet Him there, at The Well, and He will overflow our souls with that Living Water. And that His grace is big enough. It's big enough to trump the bad days. It's big enough to forgive our faults. It's big enough to make up for when we fall short...we WILL fall short, but by His grace we get up and try again. 
I returned home today to my  three amazing children and that wonderful man God designed just for me, and the sun was shining and spring is here! I am so glad to be back with them and so thankful I was able to refuel and refocus this past weekend! And tomorrow, me and my little type A self, will do a little re-prioritizing, clutter clearing and rescheduling to get ready for another week. Another week of Kindergarten. Another week as mommy. Another week as wife. Another week of this AMAZING race set before me. 

"And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." Hebrews 12:1