Schoolhouse Expo Day 2

Today was the second day in the pre-conference portion of  The Schoolhouse Expo.  All the speakers for tonight were from the Clarkson Family.  I had never heard them speak before, nor had I ever heard of their ministry.... it seems I am always learning something new about homeschooling, and the resources that are out there....  I think it is one of the reasons I enjoy homeschooling so much.... because I am learning just as much as my kids do.

I wish I could say I got to sit still and listen to the whole 3 sessions..........  I deeply wish I could have.... but God in His sovereignty had a different plan for my evening....

I was able to hear all of Sally's presentation.......... (in-between the  rescuing of mildly traumatized puppies, from a very well meaning 3 year old....... and snack happy growing boys).......  I enjoyed very much, her analogy's between the seasons and the day to day life of homeschooling our children.  Someone asked on the Facebook page for the Old Schoolhouse Magazine, what season of life we were in currently, with respect to homeschooling.  I found that a hard answer to quantify.  I feel like I am in the middle of all of the seasons, a different one with each of my children.  I am in Spring with my 3 year old.  Everything he does and wants to know about is fresh and new.  My 7 year old is a combination of Spummer ( spring and summer )  He is full of life, and loves to live it..... and we are working on building Godly truths into his life.  My 14 year old, is in the midst of Flummer.  She is transitioning out of the daily building and molding, beginning to take ownership of the truths she has been trained up in, and we are growing towards the harvest.  My 15 year old ( 16 in a few weeks)  Is in Fall-ter. ( no pun intended... but it isn't a half bad one) ........  He knows, the truths.... he has been trained ( and really still is being trained)  and we are in the winter of being still and waiting, IN hope, that he will continue to let God shape him into a godly man, fit for service in the kingdom of God.  Prayerfully waiting on God to reveal to him what he would have him "do".
It was encouraging to hear all of Sally's stories about her children, and how God has grown each one of them up to be the exact person He intended for them to be.

Next up.... and equally "disrupted" in my ability to concentrate on it exclusively... was Sarah Clarkson.  This young woman is a lighthouse to the world.... wow!  She spoke on how Literature is important in helping your child develop his or her view of the world and their place in it.  I can't wait to listen to this again on the MP3 when they come out in May. I really enjoyed listening to her read aloud.  She made the words of the story jump to life with her tone, inflection, and accents.

Lastly was Mr. Clay Clarkson.  I will confess I got to hear about 3 minutes of his session.  I will for sure listen to the taped version.....  In the midst of the 3 minutes I did hear was him outlining different homeschool philosophies....  and how he felt that the approach he called "whole hearted" was what he discerned was a Scriptural Approach.  I am interested in getting his book, to delve deeper into his statement.

Minus the crisis's that kept me from listening to the evenings offerings with rapt attention..... this installment of The Schoohouse Expo was exactly what I anticipated and MORE.  It was full of wonderful encouragement, information, and resources.........  I know that the full three days of the Expo ( May 12, 13, 14 ) are sold out for "live" attendance.........  but they are allowing people to purchase the ENTIRE 5 days of audio.... so go get your Expo to Go ticket and don't miss out on a moment of the information and encouragement that are to come......