MN Homeschool Conference

It was homeschool conference time again this past weekend.  As always, there is a funny or silly story to go with each and every attendance (more on that later!). 

Sarah G., her daughter and my God-daughter, Miss J, and I left around 9am on Friday, June 1 from Fargo.  Our plan was to visit good friend, Jamie, and take time to eat lunch and let Miss J get a little exercise.  We did sort-of crash a six-year-olds birthday party, but we did not come empty handed.  Those kiddos are sure blessed because Jamie can whip together one very cool themed birthday party (this one was a Fish theme).  Cannot say I have EVER done that in my life!  It was hard to leave, but onward to St.Paul and St. Thomas University we were drawn.

And, then the chatting began.  IF, I’d have paid a little better attention to the signs enroute, I wouldn’t have missed the correct place to merge and thus get us to campus by our intended 4pm time frame.  No, instead, Sarah and I were chatting and didn’t catch that we’d missed the proper place to merge until quite a bit later.  Needless to say, we arrived at campus much later (6:15pm) and missed out on the first half of the Used Book Sale (which Sarah very much wanted to peruse).  Thankfully Miss J was a good little traveler and put up just fine with our extended entrapment in the suburban.

We parked, checked into the room, then headed to the sale.  Though late, we both managed to find a few steals at the sale and catch up with a few friends.  After the sale’s closing, we headed back to the room (a very nice college apt/dorm with four bedrooms and 2 baths).  We ordered pizza and the rest of the FMCHE group arrived to visit.  I miss these ladies!  I and Mary N. did stay up ‘till 1am (I set my alarm because I knew we’d need at least some sleep!!) talking about kids and other such topics.  It was GOOD.

Saturday morn began with Mass, celebrated by Fr. Michael Keating. His homily was excellent. It's always difficult to get up and at'em (staying up to late to chat, laugh and cry with friends), but so worth it every time. I'm sure his talks will be just as wonderful. He is soft-spoken and his message heart-felt.

I attended two talks by Marcel LeJuene, the campus ministry administrator at Texas A&M.  Marcel was excellent. I purchased both books sold at his booth and am looking forward to listening to the remaining talks he gave at the conference once the CD set arrives. (I always purchase the CD set so I can listen again and share with my husband). Marcel is a dynamic speaker and I regret that I didn't have time to ask him a few questions after his talks or at his table. His first keynote on Friday was for Fathers, so I plan to listen to that particular talk with Eric.

There were other talks I would have enjoyed, but my theory is that I can listen to the talks later, while driving, and I only have this time to shop the vendor hall.  Truly, the vendor hall was excellent this year. I'd looked through the vendors before going, visited some of their websites (yes, my friends gently heckled me about my preparedness!!) and had marked specific booths to visit. My favorites were:

**Shirley's Prepackaged Crafts: http://shirleysprepackagedcrafts.com
For someone like me, who has a hard time getting organized for crafts, this is ideal. The kits include 12 crafts and can be ordered separately or as a school year package. She also sells the CD's, if you are so inclined to do all the work yourself and save the money. Eva has already done the couple crafts from the convention package with Louis and Graham. It's a hit.  With baby on the way, I am considering this option for the school year.

**Remember Me:
While the final printing has not been completed, the paperback mock-up of this book is enough to judge the finished product.  It is a beautiful book for recording deaths in your family or among your friends. Each month has a place to record the name and a pocket to keep the funeral or prayer card for the person. In the back are more detailed entries where you can enter further details about the person. I picked up a set of the following:  Holy Mass Intentions/Remembering You Cards, Holy Hour Meditation/Praying Always postcards, Holy Hour Repose/Never Forgotten postcards, and With Special Prayer postcards.  The postcards are similar spiritual bouquets.  They are beautiful. The vendor talked about how the idea of offering Mass for our dead is becoming 'forgotten' and she's right. This is her way of educating. I knew my mom would love the whole idea behind her book, so I split the cards and postcards with her.

**St. George Books: Going out of business sale in their homeschool store...huge discounts. Check out their website to find 10-60% off many items.  Great deals!!

**Faith Folders for Catholics:  We've done a few supplementary lapbooks and the kids enjoy them. These lapbooks are ALL Catholic and focus on sacraments, the liturgical year, or other themes related to Catholicism. They are reasonably priced and excellent. The other item she had for sale was a Children's Adoration Guidebook. I didn't purchase, but am still considering it.

**Sewing with Grandma:
THIS IS SOOO COOL! She sold kits that included 12 projects. Each project has pre-cut fabric and most of the notions necessary to complete the entire project. I purchased the basic kit at the conference special price, but she also has kits geared toward boys or girls.  Each of the projects would work for 4-H and she has demo videos on her website (you can download any for $1 each).  Angelina has already completed the pillowcase and the she hopes to sew the skirt tomorrow.

Thank goodness the trip home was much more uneventful…almost.  Didn’t miss my turn and it didn’t make me ‘angry’.  The whole FMCHE crew stopped at Applebee’s in St. Cloud for supper.  It was a very late night.  I arrived at the hotel around 12:30am, but I slept all night which is more than I can say for most nights at home lately.  Mass in the morning at St. Mary’s and visiting with good friends capped off this trip.  Anyway, that's my take on conference. I'm so glad I went; it truly was a needed respite.

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Roomies for Convention – and this photo proves that I’m no good at the arm-length photos!   Mary N., Me, Sarah G.  Miss J, below, is looking at us like were nuts.  She’s probably right.

 

The whole crew from FMCHE!  Thanks, ladies, for making this such a great trip.

Mmmmm…

I’ve thought about doing this for years, but haven’t ever taken the plunge.  But, at the homeschool convention this past week, this speaker and vendor made it seem easy enough to try (ie. commit!).  I talked with the vendor in the morning and picked up her information.  Then, I proceeded to read and discern about ‘it’ for the rest of the convention.  By the end, I’d made a decision and came home with a two bags filled with the following items…

3 dozen cloth toddler diapers

4 bummi waterproof covers

12 doublers for night time use

1 pkg. (includes 2) snappies

 

I’ve always known the economic benefits and environmental benefits, but wasn’t sure I could handle it.  However, I’ve been thinking about this for at least 14 years!!  I’m committed to using 3 cloth diapers each day.  If I do more, that’s great.  If I use less, that’s ok, too.  I was going to try to avoid the ‘poo’ times, but that didn’t happen.  So, I’m now experienced with ‘that’, too.

My husband thinks I’m nuts (the look on his face was pretty much priceless!) and I haven’t shared my adventurous purchase news with anyone else, yet.  Eric was happy to hear that he wouldn’t be held to using them, nor would we be bringing them on trips.

So far, the HE front load washer has done a good job.  One wash left the diapers without smell, which surprised me.  I’d heard that front loads wouldn’t wash the diapers well with only one wash and you’d waste more water, thus cutting your savings.

Louis has ventured into potty training, so I hope that by August, when the new baby arrives, he will have mastered the skill and only need diapering at night.  Cloth diapers also help in training, or so I’ve read and heard.  Based on how this experience goes, I may commit to making a purchase for the new baby.  Only time will tell.

Conference Memories

Almost three weeks ago, I left for the MN homeschool conference with good friend (& Louis’ Godmother) Sarah.  I haven’t had a chance to write about a couple moments that really stopped me in my tracks.  The days since have just been crazy with birthdays, swimming lessons, catching up, animals, gardening, 4-H projects, etc. 

So, if you read or look at my pictures at all, you probably can see that I’m the type of person who is a worker … and I like things to get done fast and oftentimes in MY way.  I barely slow down to take it all in, unless someone reminds me.  And that weekend, there were reminders.  It is good.

‘Breaking down the complexities of life … ~ homeschool ~ a faithful response to the here & now …’  These words were from the homily on Saturday morning.  I actually was able to jot it down so I could remember!  Sarah had asked to hold Louis, who was well-behaved for the most part, and I was able to listen… really listen.  This is rare.  I enjoyed it and the message of Father’s homily.  I didn’t catch Father’s name, so cannot give proper credit.

‘You don’t just need to think about it!  You need to pray about it.’  This was told to me by a vendor after a bit of discussion about Latin and different Latin programs.  You see, Dash will be in 8th grade next year.  He could take Henle I because that is the level he is at.  I’m just not sure I’m ready to teach Henle I or that he is ready for Henle I. 

‘Yes, I know, because you are a perfectionist.’  Have to admit that comment from dear Margaret stopped me in my tracks, too.  I thought to myself, ‘How did she get to know that about me?’ and ‘Geez, is it that obvious!’  Time for me to listen to her second talk, in it’s entirety, still hasn’t arisen.  But, her first talk was soo very good.  When reading blogs, we usually read in the way WE talk.  It’s lovely to hear a friend talk and be reminded of their living  & talking style.