Thankful Thursdays- 3/21/13- Homeschool Conventions

How often do you get discouraged? 

Be honest with yourself. 

For some of us, it happens often. Maybe you don't get discouraged easily, but you just feel worn thin...'like butter scraped over too much bread.' 

I have felt both of these over the past month. They don't overwhelm me very often, but I can feel the weight upon my shoulders. I sometimes have felt like Bunyan's "Christian" in Pilgrim's Progress, I want desperately to shed this burden, but am unsure how to do it. Sometimes the journey seems long, and frought with dangers.

Have you been there? Are you there today?

This journey of educating our children IS a long one, and while there are dangers along our path in life, feeling discouraged or worn thin IS NOT what God wants for us. He wants us to be victorious in Christ. 
So how do we get from where we are to where we know He wants us to be? A couple obvious things come to mind: prayer, and spending time in God's word.

Allow me to point out another helpful thing that you might have overlooked: attend a home school convention.

That's right, invest a few dollars into your sanity, your OWN education, and the welfare of your family.
You (and your family) will be glad you did.

Today I am thankful that it is only 2 weeks until I get to attend a homeschool convention! I need the refreshment, I need the encouragement, I need the time to focus on my own education...I even need a couple days away from the children I love so very much!

If you life's theme song sound like "Worn" by Tenth Avenue North, 

Tenth Avenue North - Worn Lyrics

Artist: Tenth Avenue North

Album: The Struggle

I’m Tired I’m worn
My heart is heavy
From the work it takes to keep on breathing
I’ve made mistakes
I’ve let my hope fail
My soul feels crushed by the weight of this world
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn

I know I need to lift my eyes up
But I'm too weak
Life just won’t let up
And I know that you can give me rest
So I cry out with all that I have left

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause I’m worn
My prayers are wearing thin
And I’m worn
Even before the day begins
I’m worn
I’ve lost my will to fight
I’m worn
Heaven come and flood my eyes

Let me see redemption win
Let me know the struggle ends
That you can mend a heart that’s frail and torn
I wanna know a song can rise from the ashes of a broken life
And all that’s dead inside can be reborn
Cause all that’s dead inside will be reborn

or maybe it sounds like "Get Back Up " by Toby Mac, then maybe YOU NEED a convention too!!!

TobyMac - Get Back Up Lyrics

Artist: TobyMac

Album: Tonight

Songwriters: Cary Barlowe, Toby Mckeehan, Jamie Moore, Aaron Rice

You turned away when I looked you in the eye
And hesitated when I asked if you were alright
Seems like you're fighting for your life
But why? Oh, why?

Wide awake in the middle of your nightmare
You saw it comin' but it hit you outta nowhere
And there's always scars
When you fall that far

We lose our way, we get back up again
It's never too late to get back up again
One day you gonna shine again
You may be knocked down but not out forever

Lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
Never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

You rolled out at the dawning of the day
Heart racin' as you made your little get away
It feels like you've been runnin' all your life
But why, oh, why?

So you've pulled away from the love that would've been there
You start believin' that your situation's unfair
But there's always scars
When you fall that far

We lose our way, we get back up again
Never too late to get back up again
One day you gonna shine again
You may be knocked down but not out forever

Lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
It's never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
May be knocked down, but not out forever

This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'

This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'

This is love callin', love callin'
I am so broken
This is love callin', love callin'

Lose our way
(Way, way, way, ay, ay, ay)
We get back up
(Get back up again)

It's never too late
(Late, late, late, ate, ate, ate)
You may be knocked down but not out forever

Lose our way, we get back up again
So get up, get up, you gonna shine again
Never too late to get back up again
You may be knocked down but not out forever
May be knocked down, but not out forever

This is love
(Lose our way)
Callin' love, callin'
(Get back up again)
To the broken

This is love
(Never too late)
Callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

This is love
(Lose our way)
Callin' love, callin'
(We get back up again)
To the broken

This is love
(Never too late)
Callin'
(May be knocked down but not out forever)

This is love callin', love callin'
Out to the broken
This is love callin'

Or maybe, you just need a total re-write of your theme song...

It's OK. It is OK to need refreshed, it is ok to feel worn...

BUT IT IS NOT OK TO STAY THERE!!!

If you are struggling, if you are feeling lost or discouraged, or even if you just need a couple days away (or even just A DAY AWAY)- figure out a way to get to a convention near you!

I have been to several different conventions in our home educating life. Small ones, big ones, HUGE ones. They all offer a chance to be around other home schoolers, to listen to spreakers, to see and touch the books and tools you are considering, to be renewed in your spirit. Each one I have been to has also offered a way to attend for free or at a discount if you volunteer to help (with registration, with book sales, with packet-stuffing.)

If you are needing refreshed, find a way!

Living in the midwest, there are several for us to choose from, local, state, and regional. Each offers something slightly different, which is why I often attend two in the same year. I am doubly blessed because my Mom lives close enough that the girls can spend a couple days at her house, so sometimes I get to go alone. Ok, I'm not actually going alone this time... a bunch of us Mom-friends from church are going- girls' night!

You too can be thankful for Homeschool Conventions! 

If you've never attended one before, and you're feeling a bit overwhelmed about all the choices, Janice Campbell has a great article in her web archives about planning. It is the same advice I would give to you, so I'll just link to it here: http://www.janice-campbell.com/2012/04/04/homeschool-conventions-made-easy/

One last word of advice- wear comfortable shoes and drink lots of water!

So, what am I looking forward to at convention? Lots of things! 
I'm looking forward to hearing some of my favorite speakers, like: Carl Kerby, Diana Waring, Jim Weiss, Todd Wilson, and Janice Campbell.

I'm looking forward to seeing and holding in my hand a couple things I *think* I want to get for the girls for school for next year, just to make sure my online research has led me to the right choice. 

I'm looking forward to searching the vendor hall for hidden treasures! 

I'm looking forward to seeing some of my far-away friends that I only get to facebook and e-mail the rest of the year. 

Of course, I'm also looking forward to a couple days away with my girlfriends! (And I'm pretty sure Kurt is looking forward to a couple days of a quiet house!)

When you focus on the refreshing a convention can give you, and take care to NOT be overwhelmed by the choices, you too can be thankful for homeschool conventions!