My 1st Convention Experience

My first Home School Convention was a three day event filled with speakers, vendors, fun, sharing, and lots of choices!!! Overall I enjoyed it. My first conflict was over which presentations to see. Each session I had to choose from about 6 different speakers. I was mostly pleased with my selections and I learned a lot. My second conflict was over the vendor hall, full of every type of workbook, math program, reading program, you get the picture if you wanted it was there! In addition to the vendor hall each speaker promoted their own learning materials and or books. I am a "self improvement" junkie so to speak and so I struggled to not buy every book that applied to family, marriage, raising Godly children, etc.... Luckily for me a speaker I heard on the first day of Convention warned us "newbies" that every book/product we see would be tempting...and Oh So It Was! She gave the advice to not buy anything the first few days, of course pray about my purchases, and remember that all of these items could be purchased at a later time. No need to buy the whole store today! I attended convention on my own and did not know anyone else in attendance. I would say that my only downside to convention was I had hoped to meet others in my home area to share this experience with. It wasn't that folks were not friendly if I said hello, but it seemed people new each other or came with a group. This was intimidating for me...so needless to say I didn't make any new homeschool friends this year. I'm looking forward already to next years convention and am feeling a little better prepared for the exhausting but fun filled experience.

Workboxes have failed me??!!!

Okay so the actual workbox system did not fail me, but I failed it. I guess what I am really trying to say is the workbox system is NOT foolproof! You must have dedication to fill the boxes and plan. I still love the system and loved how my days flowed while using it but I am feeling obligated to admit that I fell of the wagon within the first week!! I am doing this so hopefully anyone else who may stumble while using this system knows it's OKAY and you can just simply start over. I am not much for making resolutions, however for this new year of 2009 I want to commit to being honest with myself and you all about my successes and my hiccups. We are all moms, trying are very best and need encouragement. I see many blogs that talk about their success in organization, planning, teaching...you get the idea. I LOVE reading these blogs but I do find myself often thinking,"wow I wish I could do things how they do!" I want to be comfortable and confidant while I'm on MY own journey. Since each women & her families journey will be different. So today I commit to you to blog often and truthfully.

God Bless,
Melissa