The Joy of Living in My Strengths

I started this blog back on January 1st, 2010.  I started it with the full intention of sharing my story - my joys!  Some days you read about our homeschooling adventures, while other days you can read about scrapbooking and the overall joy about my walk with the Lord.  Today I wanted to return to that orginal blog post on January 1st.

Today, I am reviewing my strengths.  Many months ago I took the Strengths Finder 2.0 test and finally had on paper a list of my strengths!  Sure we all know what we do well.  But, what about the satisfaction of knowing and seeing on paper a list with detailed descriptions of our strengths?  I have to say it is rather a cool thing to refelct on a list of things we do well, rather than a list of things we have to get done!  But you will see that one of my strengths includes the love of a goal!

So here it is for all the world to see, my list of strengths:

Input
People who are especially talented in the Input theme have a craving to know more. Often they like to collect and archive all kinds of information.

Achiever
People who are especially talented in the Achiever theme have a great deal of stamina and work hard. They take great satisfaction from being busy and productive.

Relator
People who are especially talented in the Relator theme enjoy close relationships with others. They find deep satisfaction in working hard with friends to achieve a goal.

Learner
People who are especially talented in the Learner theme have a great desire to learn and want to continuously improve. In particular, the process of learning, rather than the outcome, excites them.

Significance
People who are especially talented in the Significance theme want to be very important in the eyes of others. They are independent and want to be recognized.

Why is it important to know our strengths?  For me, it falls back to one of my strengths!  Learner: I needed to know!  But seriously, I wanted to know to better use my strengths for serving my family, serving in leadership, and in building relationships.  For me, it also explains to me, why I do what I do. 

I love that God gave me these strengths.  I pray that I use these strengths to His glory and His plan!

 

 

 

Creative Friday

A little fun layout. Feels a bit more cluttered than my usual layouts, but fun!

CM Blush Paper and CM Embellies

Product Review Monday: Giving Credit

Today I completed and printed my oldest child's final high school transcript.  (Big sigh!)

It was easy....really.  I used Homeschool Tracker!  And before you think this is one giant ad for Homeschool Tracker, I do not work for them or receive compensation in any way.

We often complain of bad service or products.  But what would happen if we filled our time promoting the really good things out there?  Isn't it great when someone shares a great product, class or book?  I love finding a deal, but a quality product is even better in my mind.

Homeschool Tracker is by far the best homeschool record keeping software around.  If you are even thinking of homeschooling high school, this product is a must.  I am serious when I say it took all the headaches away from the college application process.  In a matter of mere minutes I was able to print a transcript in the proper form required by each individual university.  One university wanted a combined transcript listed by subject, while another school wanted subjects and courses listed by date.  And finally the whopper of them all wanted a transcript listing all courses take listed by subject to include a course description and a list of all materials used notated alphabetically by author.  Yep, eleven pages later and less than ten minutes, they got their transcript as requested!

Homeschool Tracker allows you to even try a free version before you buy the plus version.  I started with the free version and used it years ago before our high school years.  It was great for the first year, but then I wanted more!  Homeschool Tracker Plus, does everything I need it to do, and more!

I as a curriculum developer I look for tools that help me do my job better.  This program saves me time and money, and last but surely not least, it saves me frustration.  Oh, and did I mention they have the BEST customer service in the industry.  Katie goes out of her way to make sure to offer support to you and your needs.  The forum on the site is available to everyone - not just those who pay for the plus version.  So check it out and make planning for next year easy as pie!

Summer Fun

Creative Memories Delight Paper and Letters

Enjoying a quiet afternoon watching Gilmore Girls with my daughter and digi scrapping! Remember to enjoy the sweet moments this summer!

Creative Moments

Taking a break today in the midst of all the planning and readying for guests. Sharing my creativity today.

 Using Music 2 Digi Kit from 300dpi.com and CM Storybook Creator 3.0

The Joy of THE Homeschool Convention

For us veteran and even newbie homeschool moms convention season is upon us!  This is one of the most encouraging events that I attend each year.  The Florida Parent-Educators Association holds the best Homeschool Convention in the States.  Now, I am biased because, well, this is MY convention.  Sure, I have travelled to and attended many conferences and conventions as a vendor and speaker, but THIS convention is the granddaddy of them all!  You can check it out here: FPEA Convention.

If this is your first year to attend the FPEA Convention, or any homeschool convention for that matter, I thought I would set you up with the Convention Survival Guide!

1. Make your reservations early!  If your convention is being held in a hotel and you need to spend the night, stay in the convention hotel.  This helps the organization tremendously. Sometimes there is a contract for a specific amount of rooms to be sold.  By staying onsite you help your organization cover the costs of this event.  Trust me, once you attend your state convention, you always want to go back!


2. Get your convention guide and see what workshops you want to attend.  This year it took me two days to run through all the workshops for the FPEA Convention!  With a 120 workshops to choose from, I needed to read each and every description to make sure I wasn't missing something!


Here are the workshops on my "Don't Miss List":

1. The Apprentice:Getting High School Credit for Internships
2. Margins for Moms, Limits that Liberate
3. The Five Finger Paragraph
4. Asking the Right Questions: Teaching Literature with Socratic Discussion

Of course there are other workshops on my list, but these are the ones I don't want to miss.


3. Plan your time wisely!  Keep your watch and your convention guide handy.  Here are some don't miss opportunities that are on my "Don't Forget List"

1. Leaders Forum on Thursday
2. FPEA Annual Business Meeting - I want to stay connected to my state organization.  They work so hard for me all year, I want to be informed and support my district!
3. Musical Theater Production: The Shopping Cart
4. Keynote Address!!!!!
5. Graduation

4. I am a list maker and a planner at heart. Some years I attend with friends, sometimes I attend with the family.  Some years, I do both!  So do all your planning before you arrive!  This way you won't miss a thing!


5. Pack good shoes, a jacket and some dollar bills....Shoes because you will be walking all day! A Jacket well, because sometimes that air conditioning is cranked! Dollar bills for the tipping the gentlemen that help with the luggage and for buying your bottled water!  Gotta stay hydrated!


6. Bring your shopping list/browsing list and stick to it!  Staying on budget will make attending next year all the more easier.


7. Take the opportunity to look over all your choices that you have researched before buying.  If you have the opportunity to speak to the author of a particular book then purchase from him or her!  They have invested in you and answered all your questions so purchase from them.  Taking their time up and then walking to another booth to purchase just to save a few bucks is simply disrespectful.  So do the right thing!


8.  Enjoy and soak in all the encouragement you can get!  Keep a notebook.  Write down your thoughts and then read it again after you have returned home.  Missed a workshop?  You can order the CD!  Just visit FPEA's website at www.fpea.com and order.  Or better yet, you can order before you even leave the convention.


9. And for those of us who have been numerous times to our state homeschool convention, we have a motto: "What happens at convention, stays at convention."  Look for an update and more photos after the FPEA Graduation!

The Joy of Being a Parent of a High School Grad

On May 1st, 2010 the Pinellas Parent Educators Association held their Graduation Ceremony.  It was the most wonderful graduation I have ever attended, not that I am biased in any way!

Homeschool graduations are different from any typical graduation, as it celebrates not only the graduate but also the family.  Prior to the ceremony beginning, there was a wonderful montage of music and pictures from the Senior Class Activities from this past school year.  The ceremony then began with introductions and a message from our group's chairperson, Mary Arnold.  It then proceeded with a 13 minute presentation of pictures and music for each of the 35 graduates.  It was so emotional watching the baby pictures proceed through the years of homeschooling up to their current senior picture for each graduate. 

A special time during the ceremony was the charge.  This was a special message the parents wrote to their graduating child.  Of course, having a last name beginning with "p" means that I cried through everyone else's charge!  Andrew Apple did an outstanding job of reading our charge to Nick as we stood with him in front of the attendees.  I then moved his tassel on his cap and Paul presented him with his diploma.  It was a moment of such pride for our son.  He has become a young man of God.  We are so proud of him!

(Photo Credit Karen Baillie)

The biggest surprise of the event was at the conclusion of the ceremony when they shared letters each child had written to his or her parents.  It was beyond emotional!  Such a wonderful surprise to end this ceremony.