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.

What a beautiful past two weeks it has been in my hometown. My family and I actually reached a milestone last week; it was out one year anniversary of living in this mountain town. We love it here in this community where we have made friends, found a church home and are settling in well. Summers are short and in fact you may hear the locals say they are enjoying their four weeks of summer when walking down the busy streets. We really do have a little more than 4 weeks of summer but because of our long winters, we often feel like we get short changed on the warmer days.

You can tell that summer vacation is coming toward an end though with the local office supply and discount stores offering their back to school sales. In our household summer vacation is coming to a close. We will be starting school in the beginning of August followed by some light days during the week of August 9-13 to attend the Heart of the Matter online Conference.  Slowly getting back in the groove seems to work for our family.

Speaking of the HOTM conference, we had a contest on the forum to enter to win one of five tickets. We had several entries and after entering the information at Random.org, we had the following winners. Congratulations to the winners and thank you from each and every one of us to all that entered.

We have added a new section to the forum for the conference. In this area you will find a link to a schedule, general questions and a section for each speaker. Now anytime we have a conference, you have an opportunity to come back to the forum to talk about the speakers you have just heard and fellowship with friends you have just met. This will be so nice to continue our talks when the conference is over.

If you would like to get a head start on getting acquainted with the forum, registration is easy to do. The next step is to wait for an activation email from forum@heartofthemattermagazine.com and then you are ready!

Now that you are a member, here are a few questions and topics that may interest you:

• hsmommaof4 would like to know if anyone has suggestions for making a transition from workbooks to textbooks?
• What is your teaching or learning style?
• gfcfmomofmany would like to know if there are any special needs homeschoolers out there?
• juliephine wants to share resources on homeschool deals. Have you found a store or website that you get good deals on curriculum or supplies?
• Now that you have found that fabulous deal and been able to use that product for awhile, give us your report. Would you give it a thumb up or a thumb down? Come share your opinion in our subject section.

I hope you find time to come and visit all of us at the forum. We are open 365 days a year, seven days a week and twenty-four hours a day and can be viewed from the comforts of your home.  Until next time- 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.

“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.

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!

• How do get back into your routine after a major life disruption? For example, moving? Lack of sleep due to a young child’s refusal of bedtimes and frequent night-waking? (This is a purely hypothetical question of course…)
• What have you been studying this December? We have a section with 12 different Learning Methods. Come share what you have been doing in your homeschooling lately.
• With the New Year around the corner, budgeting is on many minds. How do you save for your Christmas Shopping? Do you set a budget? Are charities included?
• What is your favorite thing about the Christmas Season?

• Did you play a part in a Christmas pageant or play? How about your kids? Would love to hear your stories.
• On the forum we have a section that is for subjects. Do you have something you have used in schooling to recommend as a gift idea? The Subject area would be a great place for recommendations.
• Would you be interested in chatting with other forum members? Please answer our poll.
• Who were the winners of the Christmas Giveaway on the Forum? You can find the answer here.

Hope you get a chance to come by and say hello. Until next week, I will 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.

• At any age picky eaters are hard to deal with. How about a toddler with finicky ways? Do you have any ideas to help this member?
• We are curious about your favorite resources for Classical teaching. Do you have a favorite website, book or resource that you use?
• With Christmas around the corner, what is your opinion on noisy toys? Are you the giver or a receiver of one?
• How many pages do you recommend to someone who is new to notebooking?
• Are you doing a Bible study with someone? What type of things do you do to prepare for it? Would love some tips!
• This month Heart of the Matter focused on Special Needs in their ezine. Here at the Forum we have a great place for you to start discussions about Special Needs.

If you have not had a chance to visit us, come by and say hi! Until next week, I will 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.

This year, I would like to share this moment with my “other” family, the Heart of the Matter forum moderators. If you have not had a chance to come to the forum, pull up a chair and enjoy your time with us as we give thanks….

1. My savior, who loves me unconditionally and molds me daily.
2. My husband, who is my hero and the greatest man in the world.
3. My son, who warms my heart and brings me joy everyday.
4. Being able to homeschool and give my son a precious individualized education.
5. The greatest group of best friends, online and offline, that a girl could ever wish for.
6. My mother, who is not only my mom, but is at the top of that best friends list.
7. Seriously, the internet…it enables me to minister to hundreds of thousands of women across the globe.
8. Having all our material needs met…from food, clean water and clothing, to a warm house and soft bed.

Screen Name: AmySue
Classical,  Gifted

“I am thankful always for salvation, God’s Word, and abundant life in Christ!  I am so thankful for the family God has blessed me with and that I get to be home with my girls every day.  I’m thankful that even when I forget to be thankful…God is faithful to remind me of His many blessings.  To have a personal relationship with the Almighty God that created our universe just blows my mind…no matter how bad a day it is, I can always be thankful for that.  I am also thankful for laughter, hugs, and bean and cheese burritos.  They make life so nice.”

Screen name: angellmills
Primary Education, notebooking, Bible Study

What I am thankful for:

• a warm home and warm clothes
• hot water heaters and a good washing machine
• plenty of food in great variety
• my oven
• being a mom and a wife
• creativity and curiosity
• the grace of God through His Son Jesus Christ

ScreenName: Jimmie
Learning Methods: Charlotte Mason

I am thankful for my faith.  It is seeing me through difficult times.

I am thankful for my marriage to a wonderful man who is perfect for me.

I am thankful for my daughter, long awaited, and loved beyond belief.

I am thankful for having had a good a loving childhood with two parents who did the best they could.

I am thankful for my little, warm, house that is filled with love.

I am thankful for my husband’s family who has taken me in as one of them.

I am thankful for my mother-in-law, and my mom’s friend who make sure that my mom gets out and does things with someone other than just me.

I am thankful that I was led on this journey to home schooling.

I am thankful that we live in a country where my daughter can grow up to do just about anything.

I am thankful for a friend who I can laugh with at some of the “bumps” along our path.

I am thankful for our dogs who make me smile.

Screen name: 3000melanies
Taking Care of You: Health & Wellness, Special Needs & Chronic Illnesses

I am thankful this year for:

• God’s love in our lives. He is always there!
• My family, both my immediate family and my extended family, who have been a great support for us. This year especially as it has been very trying.
• A new baby
• healthy children
• the freedom to homeschool my kids
• scrapbooking and crafting

Screen name: Bonnie
Crafts & Hobbies, Learning Methods: Unit Study Approach

I am thankful for my health as I’m a 2x cervical cancer survivor.
I am thankful for my family and my God.

Screen Name: nikowa
Parenting: Adoption

“Gosh it has been quite a year for our family! We have been through lots of changes and many blessings have come our way. First and foremost, I am thankful for God’s love and guidance in my life, I would be nowhere without HIM! I am also extremely grateful for my family. God has blessed me with an awesome husband and 4 beautiful children, not to mention my extended family which has been there for us so much. Especially this past year! I am thankful for the blessing of my youngest child, Joey. The Lord gave him to us after many years of loss and prayer. I am thankful for the opportunity for my husband to go to school and gain knowledge and skills he needs to better provide for our family. I am thankful that throughout the past year, my children have not been sick, as we have not had insurance. And to wrap this rambling up, I am also thankful that I am able to homeschool my 3 youngest kids, that we have a warm home and food, that I have a strong, happy marriage, and that I have made so many wonderful friends by being involved in HOTM! Blessings to you and your family this Thanksgiving holiday, I hope it is a memorable one!”

Screen name: hsmommaof4
Assistant to Forum Lead Moderator

I Am Thankful For:

The salvation of Jesus Christ: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
(Rom. 5:8)

A wonderful husband. We’ve been married for 21 years and love each other more than ever!

Being blessed to be a mother of 3-it took me several years to have children and I know that I am truly blessed.

Having the honor to homeschool my children-I cannot imagine our lives any other way. It is hard sometimes but always worth it!

My wonderful church-I am blessed to be a Sunday School teacher and have a part in our youth ministry-I love all of those kids so much!

Living in our wonderful country-we have lots of problems but we are still a blessed nation.

Wonderful friends, some of which I’ve never met “in real life.” I am thankful to have so many warm, wonderful friends who live all over the world!

Thank you for this opportunity to share just a few of the things for which I am so thankful.

Screen name: Rhonda@livingwater
Learning Styles: Auditory, Creative Learning: mini- offices

As I reflect over this year and years that have gone by, I can’t help but thank God for the life he has planned for me. Here are a few things I am thankful for this year:

• A God that is there for you no matter what time of day, situation and with unconditional Love.
• A best friend that I have been married to for almost 13 years.
• Three Marvelous Children that continue to amaze me.
• A roof over our head, food on the table and other comforts of home.
• Husband’s Job that provides the means to keep this family afloat.
• Friends and family (on-line and in person) that continue to be the backbone of my support emotionally, spiritually and physically.
• The ability to homeschool. I am not the only one doing the teaching, I learn from the kids too.
• Churches that I have attended this last year. God’s House and family are just so amazing!
• A cat and dog that give my family love, companionship and the entertainment we need.
• Heart of the Matter Magazine and Forum Staff, Members, Readers, and Moderators. So thankful to be part of the team.

Screen Name: fleekera
Lead Moderator

Thank You for sitting at our table and letting us share our thatks with you. Don’t worry the fun does not have to stop now. You can come visit all of us, twenty-four hours a day, in the comfort of your home. Happy Thanksgiving and until next week, you know where to find me- At the Forum!

This week at the Forum, I would like to start part one of a two part series focusing on Thanksgiving. I have met some great people at the forum and would consider them to be my cyber family. They are a great group of people that are passionate about their commitment to homeschooling, parenting, being a part of their community and in everything else they may do. If you have not had a chance to visit us and would like to, come on by. I believe you will find the same feeling I experience when I am there….. HOME.

Please come join us this week as we chat about the following Thanksgiving topics:

• Over the hills and through the woods to Grandmothers house we go. What are your plans for Thanksgiving?
• What do you cook for your Meal? Is there a recipe you would like to share with us? Could be something you cook or maybe a recipe that a relative or friend has brought to your table.
• You are just about to Aunt Sally’s house and have worried all the way about how you are going to survive another holiday with your family. Perhaps you, your spouse of other family member may have a step-relative you must contend with? Let us give each other with encouragement, support and a positive attitude to family get togethers.
• If you are like me, I bought a truckload of food to cook for the Great Turkey Day. And now you are staring at those leftovers wondering what to do with them. How about sharing a few Thanksgiving left over recipes with each other?
• When do you start decorating for Christmas?
• The day after is here and the famous Black Friday sales begin. Are you one of the ones to get up in the wee hours of the morning to get those great deals?
• Family has gathered and you are looking for things to do. I have posted a reminder of the Heart of the Matter 25 Days of Christmas Cookies here. You can get some great pictures together and share a recipe too!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and can’t wait to see all the food posting for the holiday ahead. Join me, next time for At the Forum: part two. Until then, you know where you can find me!

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.

• November is National Military Month. What has your community done for the families and people that serve?
• Do you have any homeschool organization tips?
• What are some things that you are passionate about? Some things you absolutely love? Things that totally, entirely invigorate you?
• Where do you read? We all love the living books aspect of CM. So, here’s the question, WHERE do you usually read those living books?
• What is happening in your unschooling house this week?
• Which celebrity chef would you most like to fix you a meal?
• Not sure why they call it useless facts, but I love to read them. Do you have a useless fact you have wanted to share but never had the chance? Well here is your chance!

Thanksgiving is approaching and it closes the month of November out in such a humble way. At the forum this week, we would love for you to share your memories and traditions of Thanksgiving. If you have a story to share with us, and have not registered, come by and share your experiences with us.

Until next week, I will 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.

• Do you use Netflix? Have you viewed these great videos for schooling? Do you have your own list you would like to add too?
• Do you have some fun ways to keep school going when the focus is not there? We can’t always take a break when things aren’t going well, but at those times, it seems like we need fun to keep going on. Here is what we do. How about you?
• With so many subjects and studies to do in November, share with us your notebooking and lapbooking activities you are doing this month.
• Is your teaching style Charlotte Mason? What areas do you strive to be more CM?
• Are you a frugal guru? Do you have a unique way of saving and would love to share your brilliant ways with us? Come post your ideas at Fabulously Frugal.
• Speaking of Frugal ways, I must repeat this thread this week. Have you seen or heard of any great holiday deals?
• And last, but not least I would like to focus on one of my favorite sections and invite you to post some questions, advice or your experience in this area. If Adoption has been a part of your life or is in your future, stop by here and share your stories or post a question too. It is a great place to give support to each other as you go this journey.

As I think of the past weeks and all that has happened on the forum, I can’t help but mention that we are only eight away from 200 members! What a great support group for all of us. Come join us and maybe your question will be highlighted in next week’s At the Forum. Until next week, you can catch me posting 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, or at the HOTM forum, where she is the Lead Moderator.