2009 October | Heart of the Matter

October 31, 2009 By The Amies 3 Comments

Heart of the Matter is excited to introduce a new and exciting Christian book club that says goodbye to humdrum, predictable fiction. Please welcome Marybeth Whalen as she tells us more about She Reads!

Can you tell us more about She Reads?
She Reads is the result of two friends who read Christian fiction voraciously deciding to share their discoveries with others on a larger scale, and partnering with an international women’s ministry (Proverbs 31 Ministries) to do so.

Many people think that Christian fiction is lame– bad writing, trite plots, etc. For a long time it has held that stigma.

But Christian fiction is changing.

It is our goal to help spread the word about the great writers and stories that are being told. Stories about real people facing real challenges. Stories that don’t end with the main characters getting saved and a rousing chorus of Kumbaya. Stories that push the envelope at times and make you wonder, “Is this a Christian book? Because this isn’t like any Christian book I’ve ever read.” Stories that, above all, show human beings who are struggling to live a Christian life or to make peace with God. Stories that are well told by skilled writers.

We want to connect you, the reader, with stories that will stir your heart, lead you to make changes– either in the way you live or the way you see things– and point you to Christ.

Jesus knew that stories were wonderful ways to communicate Truth. The writers of these books know this as well and do it with excellence.

What kind of books can we expect to see on the reading lists?
We select 3 books a season. Our fall selections are Daisy Chain by Mary DeMuth, Shape of Mercy by Susan Meissner, and eye of the god by Ariel Allison. These three different books all meet the criteria we created at the outset. Because this club is not set up by any one publisher we have the freedom to go to any Christian publisher to find our selections… and we do. We are reading, reading, reading right now to find our spring and summer selections. We have already chosen our winter ones but I can’t tell you what those are yet! We will be making our announcement towards the beginning of November but I can promise you that you are in for a treat with these books!

Do you host giveaways?
Yes! We just had a wonderful giveaway in conjunction with Susan Meissner’s book Shape Of Mercy. Waterbrook gave away a beautiful journal and pen set, along with several sets of two of Susan’s books. The publishers are very excited to partner with us and come up with increasingly clever giveaways. We plan to host a very cool giveaway around Christmas where we are giving away a copy of all the fall and winter selections. The winner can decide whether to give the copies away as gifts or keep them for herself! We also have a very cool tie-in coming up at Christmas with one of our selections that isn’t about winning but about giving ourselves. We are super excited about what we have planned!

On a daily basis, She Reads is run by Marybeth Whalen (Director) and Ariel Lawhon (Asst Director).

If someone wants to participate then what must they do?
Our goal for She Reads is for it to function in two ways: 1) as a place an individual can go get recommendations for great books to read and to connect with the authors who wrote them and other readers who enjoyed them and 2) as a place where book clubs that are already out there can get connected with an umbrella organization that provides suggestions for books, activities they can do, discussion questions, and a point of contact with the author. We are working towards accomplishing these goals and are learning and tweaking as we go.

Right now, the best way to get connected is to sign up for our seasonal newsletter and to subscribe to our blog, which is updated several times a week. You can also become a fan on Facebook and/or follow us on Twitter. That way, as we make changes and create new facets to She Reads, you will know about it. There is a navigation bar at the top which will take you to different parts of the site.

I hope that you will all get involved with She Reads. Even if you have never been a fiction reader, this is a great way to start. We so appreciate all of you who have shown your support of this brand new venture by becoming a fan on Facebook, following our blog, subscribing to our newsletter, and following us on Twitter. There is also a button you can grab to put on your own blog and help send women to us.

We are so excited to grow this thing and create a place where you can trust the books we recommend and meet other women who love to read and love to share the power of a great story.

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October 30, 2009 By Jolanthe 4 Comments

Do you have songs that just stick in your head? Ones that you just can’t shake, no matter how hard you’ve tried to get rid of them over the years?

It would be here that I could remind you of jingles such as the Oscar Meyer Weiner song and send you merrily humming away….but that would be mean, so I’ll just leave that out.

Music has such an amazing influence over our minds, helping us recall little facts and tidbits with a quick hum or whistle of a tune. Tapping into that influence can be a wonderful resource when teaching our children. Jingles and songs abound for learning scientific facts, color, the days of the week, dates in history, addition, multiplication, Bible verses, and more.

Over the last few years, we’ve been using a great little resource called Geography Songs: Sing Around the World produced by Kathy Troxel/Audio Memory. I originally purchased at a homeschool convention, but found it as an mp3 download from Amazon recently. As we work our way around the world and learn the locations of different countries, the songs on the cd have become a wonderful learning tool for us.

Geography Songs teaches the continents in small segments ~ rather than learning the entire continent of Africa at once, the focus is on the northern, eastern, or other parts of the continent. As we begin to study a continent we listen to the song a few times while sitting in front of a map. Our kids try to find the different countries and it quickly becomes a ‘game’ to see who can place the countries as quickly as possible.

I’ve learned so much through the simple and catchy songs and I know that our kids are too. Our four year old knows the continents and oceans and can name them quickly now, and even our two year old is trying to get in on learning and singing along with us!

Geography isn’t the only area of study that we’re using music these days. It’s spilling over into so many different areas of our schooltime and the results are so encouraging ~ multiplication, the atmosphere of the Earth, and Bible verses are just a few more things we’re singing about. If you can’t carry a tune then hum, whistle or find a beat and let your kids benefit from ‘hearing’ a new perspective on their studies.

Jolanthe has found that she learns just as much {if not more} as her kids through homeschooling. She has been married for almost eleven years and has four children ages two through eight. Her interests include photography, organizing, re-organizing and blogging. You can visit her at her blogs No Ordinary Moments and Homeschool Creations.

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October 29, 2009 By Bethany 5 Comments

What should I do next? That question has often left me in a tizzy trying to figure out which item on my very important list of things to do right now ought to be the next thing to receive my attention. Yes, I’ve read the books on prioritizing. Yes, I usually make a physical, written list of all that needs to be accomplished in a day. But, my lists always seem to have the word urgent beside each item. How do I choose what to do next?

A few months ago as I was cleaning out some files, I can across a copy of a page out of an old devotional book that was sent to me by my mother years ago. It contains an ancient poem that sums up what one must do on those occasions when it seems impossible to do anything. It simply says to do the next thing. I’m going to take the liberty of quoting the poem in its entirety here. The original author is anonymous.

From an old English parsonage down by the sea
There came in the twilight a message to me;
It’s quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,
Hath, it seems to me, teaching from heaven.
And on through the hours the quiet words ring
Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,
Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.
Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,
Time, opportunity, guidance, are given.
Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,
Trust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;
Do it reliantly, casting all care;
Do it with reverence, tracing His hand
Who placed it before thee with earnest command.
Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,
Leave all resulting, doe the nexte thynge.

Looking to Jesus, ever serener,
Working or suffering, be they demeanor;
In His dear presence, the rest of His calm,
The light of His countenance be thy psalm,
Strong in His faithfulness, praise and sing.
Then, as he beckons thee, doe the nexte thynge.

Still not sure where to turn next? Isaiah 30:21 makes it clear that God will show you which direction to go, if you listen to him. “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it’” (NKJV). Is your hand empty? “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you’” (Isaiah, 41:13, NKJV). Did you have plans that got shot out of the water before 9 a.m. today? Yep, so did I. “A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9, NKJV).

So, what’s next? Is the baby’s diaper emanating a stench? Change it. Is your fifth grader stuck on the mysteries of making equivalent fractions? Teach her how. Will your hubby be home for dinner in an hour? Put supper in the oven. Find the next thing to do, and then do it. The longer you spend agonizing over what to do, the more time you waste. Just do it!

Bethany has been married for 16 years, homeschooling for 9 years, and organizing forever. She homeschools her two girls, grade 6 and grade 10, in North Carolina. She is also a partner in Codex Publishing, publisher of The Tutor and classic book reprints. When she isn’t homeschooling or driving the family taxi, Bethany enjoys reading, music, church activities, editing, writing, history, and keeping up with friends.

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October 29, 2009 By Rhodema Leave a Comment

Have you ever wanted a window into your teenager’s heart? Try listening to music–their music.

Being raised in the 70′s, I remember the music battles. Most parents from my generation said at least ten times a week, “Turn that racket down!” I decided to take a different approach with my young adults.

Often, when we hop in the car, I ask my kids to pick the music. I can’t say I always enjoy their choices, but it is enlightening. What a person chooses to listen to is so many times a reflection of their thoughts and emotions.

Sometimes it’s the beat they love and, at other times, they are drawn to the lyrics. I keep my opinion and criticism to myself as I offer instead, my standard question, “What do you like about this song?” The most tight-lipped teen usually opens up, and what you hear from him or her, is very revealing.

If I am cautious to do more listening than speaking, I learn what my kids think about God, His message, and their responsibility as part of God’s mission to the world. We have some of our best theological discussions at these times.

What if I find a moral objection to my teenager’s choice of vocal artist or the words of a song? My question instead might be, “What do you know about the singer?” or perhaps, “What worldview comes through the song?”

If you feel clueless about some of their music selections, you can check them out at Focus on the Family’s popular entertainment review page: http://www.pluggedin.com/en/music.aspxhttp://.

One of the most important benefits to sharing music is seeing my kids smile and say, “Thanks for listening to my music.” As they are growing into individual adults with their own tastes, respect for their choices strengthens our relationship.

I think it is worth forgoing the music war to gain the music window.

Rhodema lives the parenting adventure with Calvin, her college sweetheart. They have two adult daughters and two teenagers still at home, a girl and a boy. Their homeschool style is eclectic with a great love of living history books. Rhodema teaches women’s Bible studies and is a MOPS speaker. Her blog for moms is Herding Worms.

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October 29, 2009 By AmyF 2 Comments

Has it been a week already? This week seems to have flown by quick At the Forum. You have really made it a great week too! Did not know we had a forum? With 1,327 post and 177 members, we have one thing missing – YOU! So come on by and register because this is what you are missing:

Sunday is national Snuggie day. Maybe you can recommend a hot drink or book while snuggling up with your Snuggie.
We definitely have an abundant amount of a certain name on the forum. Curious? Here is the place to see.
Or perhaps you are dreaming of warmer weather or a vacation? Come dream with me where money is no object and pick your destination.
With the holidays less than two months away, we need some insight on great deals. Have you seen or purchased any great holiday deals?
What math games do you recommend for workboxes?
We have started a list of resources for mini-offices. Do you have any to add?
Come join us as we pray for those that have been struck by flooding, fires, typhoons and earthquakes around the world.

Well, that is all for this week, until next week, see you at the forum.

Amy Fleeker is a part of a great family that includes a husband of 12 years, 3 children, a dog and a cat. Her homeschooling style is eclectic with a emphasis on classical teaching. When with her family, you can find her watching movies, playing board games, and living life with a great sense of humor and knowing that God is all around. In her spare time she enjoys scrapbooking, tatting, crocheting and doing a little family history. You can visit Amy at her blog, Counting Change Again, or at the HOTM forum, where she is the Lead Moderator.

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October 28, 2009 By Ann 15 Comments

Have you considered traveling internationally, or taking a family mission trip?

When Hudson Taylor was only five years old he said, “When I’m a man, I mean to be a missionary and go to China.” This mission call grew, until as a young adult Hudson Taylor exclaimed, “I feel I cannot go on living unless I do something for China.” Years later, after a lifetime of renowned missionary service throughout Inland China, the veteran spokesman addressed the next generation as he pleaded,“The Great Commission is not an option to consider. It is a command to obey.”

I was eight years old when God called me to missions. As a little girl, the Lord “spoke” to me at a Christian family camp through Jeremiah 1:4-8 about going “to the nations.” At sixteen, I headed to Mexico on my first mission trip; as young newlyweds, my husband and I surrendered everything to go wherever God would call; and for over 22 years, our homeschooling family has been actively involved, all across the globe, in fulltime international missions. We’ve ministered together as a family, in teams of two or three of us at a time, and as individuals. We’ve tasted strange foods, experienced fascinating cultures, and have seen – with our own eyes – some incredible needs.

All along the way, we’ve been living the homeschool life: taking care of toddlers, teaching grammar and math (and everything else!), training teens, and turning in college scholarship applications. We’ve always lived in the United States, but by God’s grace, His call on our lives has taken us, collectively, to nearly 70 nations on all 7 continents. We’ve dreamed some big dreams . . . and little dreams. We’ve rescued hundreds of orphan kids, established village churches, and made friends with our neighbors (and shared the Lord) during local soccer games. To our family, “MISSIONS” is not an extra-curricular subject or an optional add-on to our educational goals; living for God’s Great Commission is the central core of everything we do. Geography is more than a map and a textbook. World News is more than a “take-it-or-leave-it” headline report. Living with a mission perspective has dramatically impacted our purpose for homeschooling and for parenting.

As I look back, it’s been an incredible journey; as I look ahead, I know we have a long way to go (both in homeschooling and in God’s international plans); and even now, I’m excited! As a brand-new writer for Heart of the Matter Online, I’m looking forward to encouraging you and your family for missions, on your unique homeschool journey.

So, to get to the point of my first HOTM article, I have a quick question, with BIG implications:

If your family wants to be a part of God’s Great Commission (Matthew 26:19 and Mark 16:15 – to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel”), DO YOU HAVE YOUR PASSPORTS YET?

Included in this article are instructions to make mission-minded “Passports” – as a fun craft project and learning tool. However, I want to motivate you to go one step further and to apply for “real” passports for each member of your family. In the United States, adult passports last for ten years and child passports last for five years. Even the “process” of applying for passports is a great educational experience . . . and who knows where this simple step could lead you, or what impact this small step could make in the future, and for God’s kingdom?

JUST FOR FUN! – Make a Mission-Minded “Passport”

As you child learns about various areas of the world, a fun idea is to chart this progress on a special Mission-Minded “Passport.”

1. What you need:

A printed copy of the MISSION-MINDED passport pages (here’s a PDF file of these pages: http://bit.ly/9NO2r), your child’s photo, scissors, glue, colored construction paper, blank white paper, yarn, hole puncher, clear packing tape, and stapler.

2. What to do:

Have your child cut out the passport pages along the dotted lines and glue these pieces to a passport-sized booklet (made from a half-piece of colored construction paper with blank white pages stapled inside). Add your child’s photo to the appropriate box, and for strength and durability cover the entire passport with clear packing tape. Punch a hole in the top left corner, and insert a piece of yarn or cording so your child can wear the passport around his or her neck. For fun, add international stickers or stamps (here are FREE printable country flags and stamps which work well with passports: http://www.stickersandcharts.com/places.php).

3. How to use this passport:

As your child learns about an area of the world, stamp the passport with a culturally appropriate rubber stamp, international flag or globe-oriented sticker, or a foreign postage stamp—all available at most teacher supply stores. This passport can be used to keep track of achievements, such as Bible memory or Bible reading progress, or to record a child’s personal prayer time as he or she “travels” around the world through intercession.

JUST IN CASE! – Apply for Official Current Passports for Your Whole Family

3 Reasons WHY you should get Passports:

You’ll be ready to go anywhere in the world, at a moment’s notice.
You’ll instill a preliminary attitude of willingness to follow God – wherever He may lead – into the hearts of each member of your family.
You’ll open up a whole world of possibilities, as you pray and learn about different nations (with real passports ready “just in case”). It will change how you pray as you ask God where He may want you to travel someday, or potential mission trips He may want you to take.

3 Steps HOW to get Passports:

Print out passport applications (if you are US citizens, here is the US Passport Application site: http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. If you are Canadian citizens, here is the Passport Canada site: http://www.ppt.gc.ca/form/index.aspx).
Fill out the applications. Locate documentations and IDs. Get passport photos for each family member.
Submit applications at your local post office, with appropriate fees.

Even if your family is never called to fulltime foreign missions, it’s good to be prepared for the “possibility” of a short-term mission trip, an overseas emergency to help a friend or loved one, or even an international vacation. If you are willing to consider a mission adventure for any (or all) of your family within the next several years, I encourage you to quit procrastinating. Get your passports!

Ann Dunagan is a longtime homeschool mother of 7 (with 3 graduates). Since 1987, she and her husband Jon have ministered worldwide with Harvest Ministry. Ann is co-founder of two African orphanages, writer for “Better Parents, Better Families” on the Christian Post and “The Missional Mind” with Biblica, and author of several books including The Mission-Minded Family.

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October 28, 2009 By Cassie 1 Comment

It’s that time again! So many good articles to read in bloggyland, so little time! Here are a few suggestions on where to begin…

Do you have a child who struggles with impulsivity? Trying to help them think before they act? Check out this article from Blissfully Domestic with tips for helping your child with self-control.

Curious how physical affection can help or hinder your child’s development? What about those children who are barely home, sitting in a classroom full of other kids all day? Read about how to nurture a strong connection with your child and make them feel secure.

Here is a great post by Heidi at Mt. Hope Chronicles about why they homeschool that many of us can relate to.

As a follow up to a link I posted last week, here is Part 2 of a series on Living and Schooling in Small Spaces at Preschoolers and Peace. She also has a post about a great idea for motivating children to get their chores done.

Halloween is getting closer, looking for a craft or fun project for your kids? Check out this post about how to make some really cool, spooky Halloween sun catchers.

I hope you have fun browsing these links and as always, I hope your week is blessed!

Cassandra Simpson is a homeschooling wife and mother of four children, ages 1, 8, 9, and 12. She is starting her 6th year of home educating in Indiana and uses a “Classically Eclectic” teaching approach. Cassandra is the Assistant Lead Moderator for HOTM’s forum and loves talking homeschool with anyone who will listen! Her hobbies are reading, blogging, sewing, and cooking. You can check out her family’s blog at In His Image.

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October 27, 2009 By Meg 5 Comments

Training and disciplining is a part of parenthood. This is something that’s necessary, like it or not. It was hard for me to accept that training was necessary as our firstborn began crawling and trying his hand at “boyish” feats (pulling on cords and reaching out for the hot stove door), even at 10 months old. Yet to ignore these actions could mean detrimental outcomes: Injuries, for one. It’s not worth it to me.

We have sought wise counsel, drank Biblical truth like it was water on a hot day, and prayed. A LOT. Just when we were getting into a feel of what works for us, getting comfortable within our “discipline routine,” I felt prompted to introduce another lesson. This time it threw me for a loop. I wasn’t expecting it. The purpose?

To exemplify mercy.

A little over a year ago, when he was three-and-a-half, our son did something that he was expressly told NOT to do. He then came and told me that he’d done it. I don’t know whether I would be more upset about him doing this almost boastful bragging or hiding the truth. Either way, I was resolved to the fact that discipline was necessary this time.

I began to explain to my small son that he had disobeyed Mommy and that he would be disciplined. Just talking about “the consequences” brings tears to our son’s eyes…it always has. He tearfully nodded and went up into his room while I sorted things out and calmed down a bit.

I felt the Lord speaking to me in that moment.

“Show him mercy. Teach him what it is to have mercy.”

Excuse me. What? A 3-1/2-year-old grasping the concept of mercy? He’d just think I caved in or got too busy or distracted to follow through. I began to second guess what I’d heard and felt.

Yet the burden grew stronger. I knew I should heed it….and so I did. I walked upstairs, picked up and sat a tearful boy down in my lap, and looked at him face to face. I began to explain (again) how disobedience to parents is a sin, and that God doesn’t like sin at all. I told him that, just like in the Bible, sometimes discipline is a necessary consequence for our sin. He nodded and nodded. All of this, he knew.

“But this time, I’m not going to discipline you. I’m going to show you mercy. Mercy means forgiving, forgetting, and completely letting go, with no cost or consequence at all.”

His eyes grew wide as he stared at me. “Why?”

“Jesus showed mercy while He was here on earth. He still DOES show mercy. He gives us good things and blesses us all the time….even when we do things to make him sad and keep us from deserving anything good. The best way to teach you about Jesus’s mercy is to show you. And that’s what I’m doing right now.”

Oh, how tears fell then — for both of us! I held him and rocked him and we cried….him out of gratefulness, me out of joy.

Though he was just a tiny tot, my son was able to understand just a tiny bit of the Lord’s never-failing love and compassion that day, as well as His mercy and grace.

What a lesson to me that day, too: To remember that I do so many things — daily — that disappoint my Creator. I turn my back on what He’s asked me to do or be….or negate what He says is vital. I talk hurtfully about another person around me….or tell a little white lie. THANK GOODNESS He doesn’t repay me for each and every sin I commit each day. I thanked Him for His mercy. His grace.

And for the ability and discernment I had that memorable afternoon to teach it to our oldest child. I am so thankful that, in this particular instance, I did listen and obey.

Meg is a devoted wife to her husband, Ken, of 9 years, and mom and homeschooling teacher to her two children, five-year-old son “G” and three-year-old daughter “R.” When she’s not writing or creating something, Meg loves to cook for, host and entertain friends and family. She also enjoys reading, the outdoors, eclectic music, yoga, and studying history. You can read all about her adventures (and misadventures) at her blog, Muses of Megret and read her educational product reviews at Muse Reviews.

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October 26, 2009 By Marybeth Leave a Comment

Welcome to Write At Home, a monthly feature here at HOTM. Marybeth Whalen will be introducing you to homeschool moms who write: curriculum authors, novelists, nonfiction writers, and popular bloggers and more. Many of us are deeply inspired by these moms who seem to “do it all.” This feature will provide you with a glimpse into their everyday lives.

Tricia Goyer is the author of many books, the most recent being Blue Like Playdough, a motherhood memoir. She writes both fiction and nonfiction and shares honestly and transparently about her life through her writing. As a homeschooling mom, she also balances educating her children with the responsibilities and demands of an active writing life. We are excited to hear from her today!

Tricia, how long have you been homeschooling? What made you decide to homeschool?

I’ve been homeschooling since 1994. Wow, that’s a long time ago! I started homeschooling after John and I met some homeschooling families. The #1 thing that drew our attention was how amazing, friendly, caring, God-centered, and family-focused their teens were. We wanted kids like that!

Which came first, the homeschooling or the writing?
Homeschooling for sure. I’d homeschool from 8:30-noonish. I was there with them, working through the books, saying the memory verses, doing the crafts, singing the songs. Then there were the activities: music, art, swimming, soccer. Then … writing would come. I tried to write 2 hrs a day during their playtime. The older they got the more independent they got and the more time I had to write. Now I’m only homeschooling one child and there is a lot more writing time. From the beginning I knew the kids would be grown and gone and I’d still have time to write. It’s how it’s worked out! I’m glad I focused on the kids when I had the chance.

Did you worry about balancing the two?
Yes, of course. I continually prayed for God to “turn my heart home.” Writing was fun, exciting, rewarding. Homeschool is all those things at times … but usually not often and not all at once.

What are some of the creative solutions you have come up with to help with that delicate balance?
I got the kids involved with chores (which made more writing time for me and home ec for them!). I picked one day for all my errands and wrote my priorities down throughout the week. I got less rigid about housekeeping. I traded off teaching with a friend. I’d teach her kids one day, she’d teach mine the other–giving us both extra time. I spent time every morning in prayer and Bible Study. It was there I found strength for all my needs.

Tell us about what you are working on right now.
I’m working on a few novels and a true story about Kristen Anderson who tried to commit suicide by laying down in front of a train. It’s a balancing act for sure! I also had a new novel come out: The Swiss Courier which I co-wrote with Mike Yorkey–a fellow author and history buff.

Your new book, Blue Like Play Dough, is a memoir of motherhood. Tell us a bit about why it would appeal to a homeschool mom.
Blue Like Play Dough is like a glimpse into my life and heart. In the book I share stories of ways God stretched me and shaped me. I was very transparent and it’s not always pretty within those pages! I share stories about raising kids, volunteering, and, yes, homeschooling. I share about my worries and fears and struggles, and a lot of readers have written me to know that they can relate!

I read that early on in your career, you received an award at Mt.Hermon Writer’s Conference. Can you tell us about that award and how that served to confirm your calling as a writer?
I wrote for many, many years with no book contract. I had a great agent and many things would “almost” get accepted only to be rejected. I wondered if I should give up. Then one year God gave me an amazing novel idea. He also opened the door for me to write a book for Teen Moms for MOPS International. That same year the faculty at the conference voted me as “Writer of the Year.” It was like streams in the desert!

Do you recommend writer’s conferences to moms who write? If so, what advice would you give to that mom who worries about having the time or money to attend one?
I HIGHLY recommend writer’s conferences. 1. You get to LEARN about writing. 2. You get to MEET editors and agents. 3. You get to CONNECT with other writers. If I look about over my career I can say 100% of my contracts/successes have roots somewhere in a writer’s conference.

Also, I know it’s hard to leave your family and spend that money. I babysat and saved money for a year to attend my first conference, yet the amount of material and connections you get in that one week makes it worth it!

Finally, the proof is in the facts. I’ve attended Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference 13 times. That proves how valuable I think it is!

Finally, how have you seen your writing benefit your children?
One of the cool things about homeschooling is that it’s not only about teaching, it’s about modeling. I’ve modeling what it’s like to tune in to God, to study, to research, to work hard, to follow a dream. My kids have seen what God can do for someone submitted to him.

Not only that my kids have benefitted by meeting amazing people. How many kids can say they’ve had world-famous authors around their table … or amazing storytellers tell them stories as they lay in bed. How cool is that?!

Thanks Tricia for doing this– how can we keep up with you online?
You’re welcome. I love connecting:

www.triciagoyer.com
www.facebook.com/tricia.goyer
www.twitter.com/triciagoyer

I look forward to meeting you there!

Marybeth Whalen is homeschooling mom to six children ranging in age from teen to toddler, as well as a speaker for Proverbs 31 Ministries. In her writings, she addresses things like burnout, dealing with interruptions, and handling homeschooling from a very practical perspective. Be sure to visit her blog, Cheaper by the Half Dozen.

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