Heart of the Matter

I am actually writing this on the eve before the Heart of the Matter Conference. If you are like me, I am so excited about the week’s event. The Beginning of the School year is creeping up on us in this household and this conference will give me the inspiration to start the school year off with a bang.

It seems anytime that I attend a conference I feel refreshed and ready to get going! The words that the speakers have spoken have related to some situation that I have dealt with now or in the past. And they always seem to have these great ideas for our family to incorporate into our daily task to make it a easier day. When the conference is over, I also have made great friends along the way. As you can tell, I am so pro- conference and the words on this page can’t express how grateful I am to each and one of the people that make it possible for this to happen. I know there are a lot of behind-the–scene people who do so much work and go without thanks. So, here is my humble thanks to all of you- you do make a difference.

Did you know there is a place to come and fellowship with all the new friends that you made at the HOTM conference? That’s right; this time together does not have to come to end. You can come and Join us at the HOTM Forum. If you are interesting in joining, the first step is to come to the Index page and click on the word register. Fill out the necessary information and wait for a conformation email from forum@heartofthemattermagazine.com.

Being a member does have a few perks including social networking, blog addresses and more about other members. We also have had a few giveaways that only members of the forum can enter. We currently have 315 members that have posted in 575 topics with a total of 2,163 posts.

To give you a little glimpse into the forum, here are a few areas that may interest you:

• Parenting: Categories included in this area include Adoption, Discipline, Health and Nutrition, Pre-conception, Pregnancy, Infant/Toddler, Preadolescence, Adolescence/Puberty, Special Needs and Single Parenting.
• Marriage: Blended Families, Date Night Ideas, Fire Proof Your Marriage, Improving Communication, Intimacy and Spiritual Connections.
• Homemaking: Budgeting/Finances, Cooking/Recipes, Housework, Yard work and Work at Home Mome
• Taking Care of You: Bible Study, Craft and Hobbies, Fashion and Beauty, Health and Wellness, and Special Needs and Chronic Illnesses.

I realize these are not homeschooling topics but these are the foundations that you and your family have laid down for you to be able to teach your children. Sometimes there are things in our life that we need advice and have nowhere to go to get it. This is where the Forum fits into your life. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to connect with others. Come join today!

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.

As I was sitting here thinking of what to write this week, a song popped into my head. It was the theme song from a television show called Cheers.

“Making your way in the world today
Takes everything you’ve got
Taking a break from all your worries
Sure would help a lot
Wouldn’t you like to get away
Where everybody knows your name”
*from the song “Where Everybody Knows your Name” by Gary Portnoy

I know I am showing my age now, but this sums the life up for many of us out there. We get to a point where daily activities are stressful and have no get away or place to vent. Or perhaps we want a place to share our celebrations and praises with nowhere to shout that simple hooray? I have tried to do this in my household and get odd faces from my kids followed by them asking me if I am talking to myself.

Last year, I had several days when my son was not focused on school work. He wanted to do anything but school and was trying everything and anything to get out of it. I continued to sing high praises as each subject was finished and he continued to grumble under his breath how unhappy he was. I am sure that if you were to look at him looking at me, you would have seen daggers coming out of his eyes. These days were long and rough. We moved for the fifteenth time since my Husband and I have been married (13 years).Then there were days filled with sadness when my son’s oxygen level went down to 81%. I thank God everyday for the healing process that occurred.

Christmas time was a financial mess, but we were blessed some merry old elves to help us out. My Husband and I had a huge fight and were too stubborn to make up. It happened, although to this date, I have no clue why we fought in the first place. I lost some money orders and my mind all in the same day. In February, we thought we had the longest day because we were ready for the year to be done. We gave a little Grace (with our church) to a few people who did not expect it by giving them free Gas.

We participated in an Easter Egg Hunt in the Snow. My Son accepted Jesus Christ into his life. A close friend almost lost her life twice. More friends went through difficulties and needed prayer requests. My Kids and I had a bread making contest and we learned they can make it better than I. We thought spring or summer may never arrive because of the endless amounts of snow last winter. Spring came and along with it we had the great flood of 2010 when the snow melted. I walked through town with same style of sandal but each was a different color. We learned that we need to take stock in a company that made mosquito repellent because they were literally sucking the blood out of us. Our Family became members of our church. I became addicted to Veggie Tales tunes all over again. And last, but not least, we finished our school year.

Why did I dull you with details of my life last year? Well, all of these items are things that would have been shared with friends: laughter, questions, praises, goofy daily life stories, tragedies, and prayer requests. This is how I hope you see the forum. A place to come seek help, give advice, to listen and hear. The most important thing I would like you to walk away with is a friend or possibly several friends. I would like for the forum to be your place, “Where Everybody Knows your Name*”.

Heart of the Matter Forum is open three hundred and sixty five days a year, seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. This makes the friend making business very easy and convenient. Joining is as simple as snapping your fingers too. Just go to register here, wait to receive activation and you are set to go! For those of you that are members already, we would love to have you back to join in the fun.  All of us At the Forum including members and moderators can’t wait to become your friend. See You there!

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.

Welcome to this week At the Forum. Hope all is well with you and your family. With one week until Christmas, my family has been a little distracted with the smells and sounds of the Holiday. Santa Came to town by fire truck to one of the places we went to last night. We went caroling last night with the church youth group and had hot cocoa by the fireside. Then we went outside and joined the rest of the festivities of the night. There is nothing like watching kids snow tubing down the hill. What a great way to start the holiday week!

Another way to start the week off is to come and visit the forum. There are so many topics and so many members- you are bound to find something that interest you. Here are a few topics that may interest you:

• Are you a down to the wire kind of person or a early bird? Do you have all your Christmas Shopping done?
• School and Vacation? Do these words mix well? What is your schooling plans this Christmas break? Are you taking time off or continuing with school?
• One of my New Year’s Resolutions this year is to be more frugal. Have you any ideas to share with us?
• What is your favorite Christmas of Holiday Song? I have shared mine here and would love to hear what yours is.
• Tis the season for giving. I always think of the community as a great giving opportunity.. What about volunteering, food drives, visiting nursing homes? Do you count these toward school credits or a certain class?
• What is on your Christmas List? Do you have a few things you want?

I hope that if you have not had a chance to visit the forum, come by and say hi! Come share your stories, your praises and prayers, your school day and most of all- your words of wisdom. Until Next week, I will see you at the forum!