Lesson #3: We all have different reasons for attending the HEAV Convention!
Unlike the majority of women attending the HEAV Convention, the Used Curriculum Sale (UCS) was not on my "Top Ten" list for attending the HEAV Convention. After reading various blogs and then the posts/tips on the HEAV Facebook page, I often wondered if I would still get my money's worth out of Convention if I did not attend the UCS but I was afraid to publicly ask that question. It seemed like many women prepared, planned and lived for the UCS and I didn't want to be a killjoy. It ended up being a worry that should never have been a worry--there's soooo much to Convention apart from the UCS, but the UCS is also a great complement to the Convention as well!
Our curriculum company, Sonlight, gives us "everything but the pencil" for each school year so we didn't need anything from the UCS. Yet a week before Convention, I was introduced to "How Great Thou Art" by Barry Stebbing. I thought it would be a great fit for our unartistic family and figured maybe we could find a deal on it at the UCS.
Thanks to another blogger, I learned about checking the UCS inventory beforehand to see what was available. There were multiple sets of pattern blocks (which I also had my eye on) and six copies of "How Great Thou Art"...perfect!! However, by the number of people at the Convention, I knew that by Friday at 1:30 p.m. (my entry time), everything would be picked through and I'd be lucky if I found the art book or pattern blocks! As I started to stress over it, God kept reassuring me that He knew what we needed/wanted and that He would provide through the UCS if it was meant to be. It was hard to let go and trust that fact but God definitely provided in His way!
It really helped writing down the original prices of the items that we were interested in pre-Convention because I wasn't prepared for how varied the prices were at the UCS. There were some genuine yard-sale prices that made you want to shout "Woohoo!" over finding a great deal. But then there were other prices that made you quickly drop the item back on the table and ask, "Seriously?"
There were three copies of "How Great Thou Art" left at 1:30 p.m. The highest-priced copy was $25 and the lowest was $15. The only difference between the books (all in great condition) was that the $15 book had a different binding and it even came with the paint cards (wow!!). The original price for book and paint cards were $50 (before S&H). I also learned that there is a Friday price and a Saturday price on most items. On some things, you can save a lot on Saturday but you risk the item not being there...it's a total gamble.
My favorite part of the UCS was the game table where I found super-cheap (and complete) board games for my child for $1-$2 each. These games became his promised Convention "souvenir" = perfect!
After being blocked by rolly carts and being surrounded by mass organized chaos and serious shoppers (which I was not one of them), I was ready for the solace of the workshops! The savings on the art book and games totally justified the 45-minute wait in the check-out line and first UCS experience!!
All in all, the UCS is a great Convention stop if it's your thing. For me, it was a good reminder as to why our family enjoys the convenience of a boxed curriculum, but I totally appreciated the deal on the art book and having a new resource for board games! The UCS is definitely worth checking out regardless of your needs...there is definitely something for everyone there (even if it's just finding a good book to read on the way back home)!
Monday, June 17
2013 HEAV Convention Wrap Up -- Part 3: The Exhibit Hall
Lesson #2: Despite the best laid out plans, you can't do it all in one day!
...More power to you if you can!
I had it all worked out in my mind that we would tackle the Exhibit Hall on Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (after tossing and turning the night before because I was too excited to sleep, the two hour trip to the Convention Center and attending the afternoon workshops). After all, my "must-see" vendors were circled so why else would I need to stop at all the other vendors? ...little did I know...
At 5 p.m., we walked into the Exhibit Hall and I was slightly overwhelmed yet really excited to be surrounded by "everything-homeschool". Armed with my circled map, we started down the back wall. I've never seen so much homeschool "stuff" all in one place outside of the Rainbow Resources catalog!
About three full rows into the Exhibit Hall, I started passing up looking at books and I love books but I was determined to visit all the Exhibitors by 9 p.m. At four rows in, my eyes began to glaze over as I couldn't make sense of what the vendors were telling me. My stomach was growling, my mind was still reeling from the afternoon sessions (Colin Gunn challenged my thinking during the IndoctriNation sessions) and my body was thinking about the luxurious Embassy Suites hotel room that was awaiting us. Halfway through the Exhibit Hall, hunger and the need to rest won out. It pained me to leave knowing that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I knew I had a big weekend ahead of me and pacing myself (which is hard for me to do) was absolutely necessary!
However, I learned that it's okay to take all three days to visit the Exhibit Hall even if you have all of your curriculum and aren't on the hunt for something specific. And, it really paid to have an open mind and visit vendors who weren't circled on my map. There are some great alternatives to the big "name brand" companies that I had no clue existed!
I also learned that it was okay to think about purchases (surprisingly, the vendors weren't pushy at all) and to even take info home and pray over it! That's what I did about supplemental Bible Curriculum because I was torn between two great options and price points. As I was pouring over their brochures in my hotel room, I felt God asking me to wait and trust Him to show me how to teach the Bible to my child. A few days later, Positive Action Bible Curriculum (one of the companies I was praying over) called to say that I was their door prize winner and won "Enjoying God's Gifts", their first grade Bible curriculum!!! Awesome!! God was already in the details waiting to provide in His time and in His way!
I loved seeing the variety of vendors! Sampling homemade ice-cream, watching a lasso demo (which made me homesick for my family back home because my son would have loved to see a "real" cowboy), discovering Lego accessory packs that line up with our history units, seeing companies who focus on old-fashioned boyhood fun as well as having access to hundreds of companies that serve homeschoolers made for such a neat first-time Exhibit Hall experience! Kudos to HEAV for putting together an awesome Exhibit Hall--definitely a Convention highlight!!!
...More power to you if you can!
I had it all worked out in my mind that we would tackle the Exhibit Hall on Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. (after tossing and turning the night before because I was too excited to sleep, the two hour trip to the Convention Center and attending the afternoon workshops). After all, my "must-see" vendors were circled so why else would I need to stop at all the other vendors? ...little did I know...At 5 p.m., we walked into the Exhibit Hall and I was slightly overwhelmed yet really excited to be surrounded by "everything-homeschool". Armed with my circled map, we started down the back wall. I've never seen so much homeschool "stuff" all in one place outside of the Rainbow Resources catalog!
About three full rows into the Exhibit Hall, I started passing up looking at books and I love books but I was determined to visit all the Exhibitors by 9 p.m. At four rows in, my eyes began to glaze over as I couldn't make sense of what the vendors were telling me. My stomach was growling, my mind was still reeling from the afternoon sessions (Colin Gunn challenged my thinking during the IndoctriNation sessions) and my body was thinking about the luxurious Embassy Suites hotel room that was awaiting us. Halfway through the Exhibit Hall, hunger and the need to rest won out. It pained me to leave knowing that I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, but I knew I had a big weekend ahead of me and pacing myself (which is hard for me to do) was absolutely necessary!
However, I learned that it's okay to take all three days to visit the Exhibit Hall even if you have all of your curriculum and aren't on the hunt for something specific. And, it really paid to have an open mind and visit vendors who weren't circled on my map. There are some great alternatives to the big "name brand" companies that I had no clue existed!
I also learned that it was okay to think about purchases (surprisingly, the vendors weren't pushy at all) and to even take info home and pray over it! That's what I did about supplemental Bible Curriculum because I was torn between two great options and price points. As I was pouring over their brochures in my hotel room, I felt God asking me to wait and trust Him to show me how to teach the Bible to my child. A few days later, Positive Action Bible Curriculum (one of the companies I was praying over) called to say that I was their door prize winner and won "Enjoying God's Gifts", their first grade Bible curriculum!!! Awesome!! God was already in the details waiting to provide in His time and in His way!
I loved seeing the variety of vendors! Sampling homemade ice-cream, watching a lasso demo (which made me homesick for my family back home because my son would have loved to see a "real" cowboy), discovering Lego accessory packs that line up with our history units, seeing companies who focus on old-fashioned boyhood fun as well as having access to hundreds of companies that serve homeschoolers made for such a neat first-time Exhibit Hall experience! Kudos to HEAV for putting together an awesome Exhibit Hall--definitely a Convention highlight!!!
Tuesday, June 11
2013 HEAV Convention Wrap Up -- Part 2: The Rolly Cart
Like with anything, there are just some things you have to see and experience for yourself!! The HEAV Convention is one of them!
As a first-timer to the Convention, I read everything I could get my hands on (HEAV Facebook page, HEAV bloggers, etc.) in hopes of finding out everything I needed to know in order to have a great Convention. I read about address labels, rolly carts and tennis shoes and thought I understood the logic behind everything. However, experiencing it all was something totally different!
By Saturday afternoon, I had to stop and write all this stuff down because you're only a newbie once! So here are my unofficial, newbie Convention observations that have nothing to do with the "serious side" of the Convention!
Rolly Carts
Lesson #1: Don't laugh at the rolly carts...you're gonna wish you had one!!!
When we arrived at the Convention Center to check in on Thursday afternoon, I laughed at all the women dragging rolly carts, rolling crates, rolling suitcases, and anything with wheels into the Convention Center. (Think my words were, "They weren't kidding about the rolly carts, were they??") From everything I read, I thought the rolly carts were mainly for the Used Curriculum Sale. No way -- you need a rolly cart for the entire Convention, especially the Exhibit Hall!
We received soooo much free stuff from the Exhibitors--samples, books, DVDs, flyers, catalogs, pens, tote bags, etc. Combine all of that with any purchases you make at the vendor booths and it makes for one heavy shoulder bag (and I even brought the biggest tote bag I owned)! After an hour in the Exhibit Hall, my friend offered space for my bag in her rolly cart! At that moment, all laughter and amazement over the sheer number of women with rolly carts ceased. And, I'm now adding a Thirty-One cart on my Christmas wish list--gonna attend next year's Convention in style! ;)
However, BEWARE of the rolly carts!! Some rolly carts need caution signs on them...it's not the cart as much as it is the driver, though! ;) Rolly carts run over toes (personal experience), hit the back of your legs (personal experience), and they also block you from getting closer to look at items at the UCS (more personal experience)! But, rolly cart moms are extremely apologetic and most are juggling multiple children plus a rolly cart, so I can't fault them. Another thing to keep in mind is that some rolly carts blend in with the carpet. So, when you're texting someone about meeting up and not watching where you are going, you can easily fall into one (personal experience)! How embarrassing! ;)
Also, don't be surprised if you find some things on wheels that could make the Guinness Book of World Records with the number of kids riding it in while other wheels lend a new definition to "wagon train"! I had no clue that wagons even came with attachments to carry multiple kids = awesome! But as a side note, wagons also make good rolly carts for the Exhibitor Hall and Used Curriculum Sale!
Ah yes, the Exhibitors ... will save that for the next "newbie" post later this week!
As a first-timer to the Convention, I read everything I could get my hands on (HEAV Facebook page, HEAV bloggers, etc.) in hopes of finding out everything I needed to know in order to have a great Convention. I read about address labels, rolly carts and tennis shoes and thought I understood the logic behind everything. However, experiencing it all was something totally different!
By Saturday afternoon, I had to stop and write all this stuff down because you're only a newbie once! So here are my unofficial, newbie Convention observations that have nothing to do with the "serious side" of the Convention!
Rolly Carts
Lesson #1: Don't laugh at the rolly carts...you're gonna wish you had one!!!
When we arrived at the Convention Center to check in on Thursday afternoon, I laughed at all the women dragging rolly carts, rolling crates, rolling suitcases, and anything with wheels into the Convention Center. (Think my words were, "They weren't kidding about the rolly carts, were they??") From everything I read, I thought the rolly carts were mainly for the Used Curriculum Sale. No way -- you need a rolly cart for the entire Convention, especially the Exhibit Hall!
We received soooo much free stuff from the Exhibitors--samples, books, DVDs, flyers, catalogs, pens, tote bags, etc. Combine all of that with any purchases you make at the vendor booths and it makes for one heavy shoulder bag (and I even brought the biggest tote bag I owned)! After an hour in the Exhibit Hall, my friend offered space for my bag in her rolly cart! At that moment, all laughter and amazement over the sheer number of women with rolly carts ceased. And, I'm now adding a Thirty-One cart on my Christmas wish list--gonna attend next year's Convention in style! ;)
Also, don't be surprised if you find some things on wheels that could make the Guinness Book of World Records with the number of kids riding it in while other wheels lend a new definition to "wagon train"! I had no clue that wagons even came with attachments to carry multiple kids = awesome! But as a side note, wagons also make good rolly carts for the Exhibitor Hall and Used Curriculum Sale!
Ah yes, the Exhibitors ... will save that for the next "newbie" post later this week!
Sunday, June 9
2013 HEAV Convention Wrap Up -- Part 1
2013 HEAV Homeschool Convention (www.heav.org) ... thought-provoking, affirming and fun! It was what I expected and not what I expected all at the same time! Several helpful bloggers prepared me well with their tried-and-true tips! All the pre-planning (circling vendors, making curriculum lists and having a flexible schedule) removed a lot of guesswork from the weekend! There was so much to take in from "everything-homeschool" to all the God-things which reminded me of why He called our family to homeschool!
By Saturday afternoon, my mind was overflowing with thoughts that I took a break from the workshops to just sit and write (and write and write)! I'll post some of my thoughts and lessons from the HEAV convention over the next few weeks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The biggest thing that I noticed about homeschoolers from this past year of homeschooling was confirmed many times throughout the workshops: Most homeschoolers are pioneers (think the pentagon lifeshape for fivefold ministry). They see the plight of the church and what it has become and where it's headed. But rather than settle for complacency or try to fix a broken structure that doesn't want to be fixed, a lot of homeschoolers break the mold and become the church as a family unit.
They strip away everything and get back to the basics of discipling their own children first. They remove the programs (church and educational) and make it about relationship first and education second. I was speechless as I heard the MP3 as Michael Farris (HSLDA) in "The Homeschooling Father" workshop echo the very things God was saying to me as I struggled over whether or not to homeschool as it developed into a heart issue between family vs. ministry.
The words in my journal in Summer 2012 were this:
Michael Farris's words in his workshop echoed that:
Though the homeschool jargon is a bit different than WMU jargon, the underlying message is the same -- it's all about day-to-day missional living which makes the biggest Kingdom impact (see Matthew 25).
When homeschoolers get back to the basics and learn to follow Christ together as a family unit, it can't help but flow outward and impact the church and the world. These homeschoolers are in our communities serving as they can. They are making a difference because they aren't bound to a classroom every day and have more freedom to go where God wants them to go. Missions becomes education and education becomes missions without waiting for the church to get it or to catch up.
It was neat to see how all of these conclusions from our first year of homeschooling were reiterated this weekend. God tied a lot of the loose ends together and showed me why He asked me to take a break from all outside ministry (WMU and church) rather than make the four-year commitment to being Association WMU Director. There will be time for that later on, but now is a season of quietness, a season of fighting for balance, a season for discipline as we flesh out our convictions and align our lives accordingly, a season to continue building on the foundation that was started during our first year of homeschool.
The other thing I noticed is that homeschool leaders are actively and thoughtfully living out their faith as God leads and when God leads without dissecting every little thing or calling meetings to discuss every little detail. They don't create committees or gather permission from leadership. They know how to act independently. These experiences all create courage, conviction and faith because, most of the time, homeschoolers are walking alone against culture and even the church. It's about living out God's Word in the home and which, in turn, impacts everything around them. The great part about it is that this isn't just for homeschoolers...it's for anyone who chooses to live by the Word and run their family by the Word.
Looking back, the HEAV Convention wasn't about rallying the troops or convincing/guilting people into homeschool. It was about equipping the troops already in the homeschooling trenches and giving them instruction and encouragement to press on and to keep following God by holding true to the things He's revealed in His Word. Amazing weekend with lots to process!!
By Saturday afternoon, my mind was overflowing with thoughts that I took a break from the workshops to just sit and write (and write and write)! I'll post some of my thoughts and lessons from the HEAV convention over the next few weeks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The biggest thing that I noticed about homeschoolers from this past year of homeschooling was confirmed many times throughout the workshops: Most homeschoolers are pioneers (think the pentagon lifeshape for fivefold ministry). They see the plight of the church and what it has become and where it's headed. But rather than settle for complacency or try to fix a broken structure that doesn't want to be fixed, a lot of homeschoolers break the mold and become the church as a family unit.
They strip away everything and get back to the basics of discipling their own children first. They remove the programs (church and educational) and make it about relationship first and education second. I was speechless as I heard the MP3 as Michael Farris (HSLDA) in "The Homeschooling Father" workshop echo the very things God was saying to me as I struggled over whether or not to homeschool as it developed into a heart issue between family vs. ministry.
The words in my journal in Summer 2012 were this:
How can I expect to disciple these young women when I'm not even discipling my own child? How can I show others what it means to invest in the next generation when I don't even have time to invest in my child? What am I telling my child if I spend all my time investing in others when he's standing here crying out for my attention but I'm too busy to give it to him? What am I showing him about Jesus and what am I showing others about Jesus if I give to everyone but to the One and the ones that matter most to me? As much as I believe that leadership starts with the leader and works outward to the leadership team and then to the entire group, wouldn't it make sense to model that on the home front, too, not just for ministry/missions? What good is it if I spend time discipling others but fail to disciple my family and lose my family in the process?
Michael Farris's words in his workshop echoed that:
"If I'm not discipling my own children first, I don't have any credibility for ministry. I have no message, I have no ministry."
Though the homeschool jargon is a bit different than WMU jargon, the underlying message is the same -- it's all about day-to-day missional living which makes the biggest Kingdom impact (see Matthew 25).
When homeschoolers get back to the basics and learn to follow Christ together as a family unit, it can't help but flow outward and impact the church and the world. These homeschoolers are in our communities serving as they can. They are making a difference because they aren't bound to a classroom every day and have more freedom to go where God wants them to go. Missions becomes education and education becomes missions without waiting for the church to get it or to catch up.
It was neat to see how all of these conclusions from our first year of homeschooling were reiterated this weekend. God tied a lot of the loose ends together and showed me why He asked me to take a break from all outside ministry (WMU and church) rather than make the four-year commitment to being Association WMU Director. There will be time for that later on, but now is a season of quietness, a season of fighting for balance, a season for discipline as we flesh out our convictions and align our lives accordingly, a season to continue building on the foundation that was started during our first year of homeschool.
The other thing I noticed is that homeschool leaders are actively and thoughtfully living out their faith as God leads and when God leads without dissecting every little thing or calling meetings to discuss every little detail. They don't create committees or gather permission from leadership. They know how to act independently. These experiences all create courage, conviction and faith because, most of the time, homeschoolers are walking alone against culture and even the church. It's about living out God's Word in the home and which, in turn, impacts everything around them. The great part about it is that this isn't just for homeschoolers...it's for anyone who chooses to live by the Word and run their family by the Word.
Looking back, the HEAV Convention wasn't about rallying the troops or convincing/guilting people into homeschool. It was about equipping the troops already in the homeschooling trenches and giving them instruction and encouragement to press on and to keep following God by holding true to the things He's revealed in His Word. Amazing weekend with lots to process!!
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