Weblog

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

  • Can anyone relate?

    parentshidinginbathroomlarger
    My thanks to my new friend Kitty, whom I met at the WATCH conference for sending this!

    I loved it, and both my husband and I feel a renewed sense of vindication as we know we are not the only ones who experience this!

    Have a great day everyone
    heidi

Saturday, August 11, 2007

  • Homeschool Newsletter, Update on our life :)

    Not sure why I can't change the font color so it's easier to read.  Sorry!
    Well I am getting lazy with my blog entries :)  I write a newsletter for a couple different homeschool organizations so I have decided to just copy and modify them a bit for my blogs.  A girl can only do so much!  I feel as if the summer has just flown by!  Savannah is DRIVING now.  (pray for me!) and the ministry that God has laid on our hearts to help churches reach out to homeschoolers (www.firstclasshomeschool.org) is growing almost as fast as our children.  We have a few big announcements on the horizon.  As we pray and seek the Lord hope to be able to make them soon.  :)  I know, I"m such a TEASE.  hahaha!

    Last night I was making dinner (london broil, salad, mashed potatoes and something else I can't remember) and I heard this funny "squirt squirt" sound coming from the living room.  I peered around the corner in horror only to find Summer (age 4) squirting Sydney (age 2) with the sunblock!  It was the pump kind, not the aerosol (thank heaven!!) but it was EVERYWHERE.  All over the walls, the couches, Sydney, the carpet, and the stairs.  I was TOO MAD to get pictures.  Now I wish I had so you could all feel sorry for me at the same time :)    Summer did clean it up (no way was I going to clean it up) but my London Broil was overcooked and the mashed potatoes got a little softer than I would have liked.  Sigh.

    Someone emailed me the other day about my "perfect, all-together life."  This should dispel that rumor!
    Love to all!
    Heidi
    Back to Homeschool
    5 Tips for a
      Great Start to the New School Year

    "MOM!!! Spencer broke the chickens!"This was the call that came to my ears as I sat down to write this for you.   "What chickens, Summer?  We don't have chickens!!??"  My mind was filling with images of the frozen chicken the in garage freezer, strewn all over the stairs, or of the darling chicken drawing one of the kids made for us, torn to bits.  Fortunately for me, it was neither of those things. I had to laugh when she brought the "broken chickens" -which were not really broken at all.  All that fuss for a toy chicken Jay brought home from a mission trip to Russia two years ago.   And it wasn't even broken.  I asked myself (outloud)
    "Oh my, how am I ever going to fit homeschooling back into my schedule after taking the summer off?"   Life is so full already!

    If you are a homeschool mom, chances are that your life is as full and busy as mine. Your kids may not be "breaking chickens" but I'll bet they're up to some mischief!  Are you ready to add schooling back into your daily routine?? As homeschool moms, we need to be ready to minister joy and love to our kids.  The following 5 tips have helped me over the past ten years.
     
    1. Be prepared Spiritually
      Have you spent time in prayer?  Do you know God's heart for your children this year? He wants to speak to you specifically about your homeschool plans!  Take the time to listen.
    2. Be prepared Relationally
      How's your relationship with your children?  Especially your teens ... are you connecting with them?  Remember, homeschooling is about relationships, first!  Talk a walk!  Read together - affirm your kids!
    3. Be prepared Academically
      In Washington we are required by law to test our children annually.  I have never looked at this in a bad way - it helps me to see where to chart our course for the following year maximize our homeschooling efforts. Be sure to lay out your course for each subject you are teaching, and then be willing to adjust it as you go along.
    4. Be prepared Emotionally
      Here is where you take care of the "me" in MOMMY! If you have not had a chance to rest and relax a little, take the time! Call a friend if you need to trade babysitting, or plan a nice quiet evening that you can sit down and ask the Lord to give you His joy for this coming year.  Locate your favorite teacup (if the kids haven't broken it yet) and read a book, or journal your thoughts.
    5. Be prepared Romantically
      Yes- you heard right.        If you are a homeschool mom - then you were a WIFE first.  What came first, the homeschool chicken or the homeschool egg?  I think it was the ROOSTER!  Spend time with your husband, and take joy from that relationship. It is from the Lord and He wants to bless your marriage!  Share yourself with your husband and connect with him in every way before you dive headfirst back into the school year.  You'll both be glad you did.
      -heidi st. john
    follow Christ!Remember the heart of homeschooling - as Christian parents- should be to teach our children what it means to be fully devoted to following Jesus!

    Our children are watching us more than they are listening ...

    What are YOU saying by your example?
    The theme for this past conference was Encouragement from the Father for the Heart of Homeschooling

    Did you miss any workshops?  You can purchase them in either MP3 or CD format!

    CONFERENCE RECORDINGS
    are available at
    Best Christian Conferences
    AFTER AUGUST 12th
     
    GET CONNECTED!
    Want to be part of an independent Christian homeschool co    operative?
    First Class Homeschool Ministries has co-ops in    first class homeschool ministires
    Washington:
    Renton
    Lake Stevens
    Snoqualmie
    Mount Vernon
    Vancouver
    Camas
    Spokane
    Longview
    Nation-wide:
    Central Louisiana
    Louisville, KY
    Appleton, WI
    Dorchester County, MD

    Classes start soon!
    For more information or to start a First Class co-op in your area,  visit www.fchm.org
     call 360.326.8826 or
    email
    info@fchm.org
    What folks are saying about the 2007
    Seattle Conference:
    "I have been absolutely and thoroughly blessed by the whole conference!  I feel you hit the heart issue directly-that it's not all about the academics but about the relationships with our spouses, kids and most importantly God.  Thank you for all your hard work, volunteer time and effort to make this weekend happen.  We are new WATCH members and look forward to helping out in future events!" 
    L.R. from Shoreline, WA

    "(The conference) helped us feel like a part of a community.  Calmed and encouraged us.  Gave us direction.  Loved that it was about so much more than what math book we should use." 
    M.W. from Vancouver, WA
    "I Just enjoying the overall experience.  As a new homeschooler, I just wanted to soak in all that I could and I felt that you offered a nice balance of workshops and vendor time.  But, the biggest draw for me was definitely the workshop topics themselves.  When I read your list of topics (specifically for the New Homeschooling Track), I decided to attend.  By the time I registered it was already $25.  Someone told me it was originally $50.  If that is true, that would have deterred me from going, now matter how good the workshop topics were! "
    D.V. from Renton, WA

    WATCH has pictures from our conference!  To see them, please visit our website.
    		 




    _______________________________________________
    General mailing list
    General@watchhome.us
    http://watchhome.us/mailman/listinfo/general_watchhome.us



    No virus found in this incoming message.

Tuesday, July 31, 2007

  • On the Radio ... homeschool conference ... life is busy!

    WATCH - Live in Seattle with Thor Tolo

    Jay and I had the chance to be on live radio on Monday!  It was a ton of fun! Thor was a ball of energy (he even got us to sing ... impromptu ...but then again it doesn't take much to get Jay to sing :)  He's amazing...

    Anyway! You can hear the radio interview with us and our good friend, Diana Waring on  the popular Christian radio program "Live in Seattle" with Thor Tolo which aired Monday, July 30th. Talking about the upcoming WATCH conference and answering questions about homeschooling.

    LISTEN NOW  

     
     WATCH Conference 2007 Seattle
    You are invited to the 13th Annual

    WATCH
    State Homeschool Conference
    featuring Steve Lambert

    Speaker and Publisher of Five in a Row  

      Place: Calvary Fellowship

    Admission is only $25, and spouses attend FREE!
    2 Full Days of Speakers and Encouragement

    Don't miss it!

    Register TODAY! 

    www.calvaryfellowship.org

    23302 56th Ave W
    Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
    (425) 775-3422
    Get directions

    August 3 & 4, 2007

Thursday, July 05, 2007

  • New Development for the Public School System

    Postby Heidi St. John on Thu Jul 05, 2007 7:07 pm

    Dear Parents,

    The WA state legislature is at it again. If you have a child in the school district that is in 4th grade or above, you need to know what has been decided for you.

    Actually, even if you don't have children in the public school, we urge you to be informed about what is taking place because chances are good that you know someone who has a child in the public school system.

    Let me just get your interest by quoting from the first paragraph of the attached letter written by WA State Senator Val Stevens on June 15, 2007:

    This year in Olympia, parents were sold out. The Democrat supermajority ramrodded a bill through the Legislature that takes complete control over what their children are taught about sex. Parents will have no say in the matter. No school board meeting to voice their opinion and no forewarning.

    Starting with the fourth grade, the State Department of Health and the Superintendent of
    Public Instruction have been instructed to wnte the curriculum that will include information about both homosexual and heterosexual sex and contraception. It is scheduled to be ready and coming to their child’s school by September of 2008.

    The end of local control.


    Parents, it is crucial that we understand what is being promoted to our children through the public education system. We must not become complacent and unaware - there is too much at stake!

    Please take the time to read this letter and forward it on to other parents. We will continue to pass updates along as they become available. I called the office of Sen. Stevens on July 5th to confirm that this letter did come from her office, so you can be assured it is "the real deal" and you won't end up seeing it on an internet "folklore" site. You can contact the Senator as well - she represents the 39th district in Washington State.

    Because of Him, and for the Next Generation,

    Jay and Heidi St. John
    Image
    Image
    Heidi St. John
    FCHM

Saturday, May 12, 2007

  • Redeeming Our Time

    From the WATCH e-zine for Mother's Day ...
    Have a wonderful weekend!

    Redeeming Our Time

    Time Flies.

    The other day, I overheard a "celebrity" being interviewed on TV as I prepared dinner for our family.  The questions seemed to center on her public life, and then, one question got my attention.

    "If you could only say one thing to young mothers who are raising their children, what would it be?" asked the reporter.  The woman thought for just a moment and replied, "Life is not a dress-rehearsal.  You only get one shot at raising your kids.  Don't mess it up."

    Her voice cracked slightly, and I heard the familiar sound of missed opportunity in her tone. I wondered why.  By all appearances, she had the "perfect" life. Beautiful children, lots of money, handsome husband. I put down my paring knife to focus on the remainder of her short interview.  It turned out that she was estranged from two of her children.  She lamented the fact that while she was raising her children, she and her husband spent so much time cultivating a "perfect" family, that they did not develop a relationships with their children that would last.  It only looked good on the outside.   And now, it was too late to start over.  The time for raising her children had passed.  She could only warn other mothers not to walk down the same path she had gone down.  The time for sowing seed had passed.  The harvest was in.

    It is hard to hear those kinds of words.  My heart hurt for this mom.  Naturally, I thought of my own children.  Our oldest is nearly 16 - and it seemed that it was just yesterday when we were holding her in our arms, in awe of her perfect features and scared to death that we wouldn't do everything "just right".  I thought of my grandmother, who remarked to me just a few months after grand-daddy died that she was amazed at how fast her life had gone by.  Grandma said to me, "Heidi, the best thing you will ever do in this life is to love your husband and to raise your children to love and serve the Lord.  Don't let the world fool you into thinking that having children is anything less than the best thing you'll ever do."   She should know.

    I recently spoke to a group of women in Washington about the blessing of motherhood.  It seems odd to me that many Christians have bought into the world's way of looking at children. It must grieve the heart of God when we think of our children as anything less than a gift straight from the heart of the Creator Himself. 

     The Bible is full of stories of amazing moms who understood their worth before the Father.  God's word stresses the importance of mothers!  In Exodus 2 we read about Jochebed, the mother of Moses.  She protected her son, even putting her own life in peril, and then entrusted him to the Lord.  Eunice, the mother of Timothy, instructed her son in the knowledge of the scriptures and he went on to write one of the most amazing books in the New Testament.     II Tim. 1:3-5; 3:14,15

    In the United States today, mothers are under enormous pressure to conform to the world's view of children.  Radical Feminism has devalued motherhood in a quest for "greater meaning" and "true identity". But God sees things much differently. 

    God's view of children is a dramatic departure from the cultural norms of the world we live in. 
    The world says: "Children are a burden."
    God says, "Children are a blessing."

    The world says, "Try not to have more than two or three children. "
    God says, "Blessed is the man who has many children!"
                
    The world says, "Children get in the way."
    Jesus said, "Let the little children come to ME."

    The world has diminished the high-calling of motherhood to little more than a "stop-over" on the highway of life.

    But God says that a wife of strong character is rare - she is worth far more than jewels!  (Prov. 31.10) 
    If you are a mother, you have an amazing opportunity every day to shape the future. As a homeschooling mom, you have even more time to influence the lives of your precious children.  Homeschooling provides endless opportunities to teach your children about God's love for them!  Mom, your job is so important!  You have been given the privilege of weaving a fabric of family life using the truth of God's word to impact the lives of your children... and ultimately this fabric will be a beautiful tapestry that will bear witness to the power and love of the Lord Jesus as your children walk with the One who created them in your womb.

    I'm glad I was reminded of the fact that life is not a dress-rehearsal.  I'm thankful that my grandmother loves the fact that Jay and I chose to have a family that doesn't fit the "worlds" mold very easily.  The time does pass quickly.   Let's redeem the time God has given us to influence these precious children for the Glory of God.  It's an investment that yields a harvest of joy that will continue into eternity.

    Happy Mother's Day!

    Heidi St. John

    Jay and Heidi are the blessed parents of six children - Savannah (15) Sierra (13) Skylar (10) Spencer (6) Summer Anne (4) and Sydney (1). In their spare time (??), they oversee the WATCH organization and First Class Homeschool Ministries.  The St. Johns reside near Vancouver.
    WATCH is pleased to invite you...
    2007 Conference Theme
    2007 Conference

    Please Join WATCH for our next  Conference in Seattle!

    AUGUST 3-4 2007 | Seattle, WA

    Calvary Fellowship in Mountlake Terrace

    Keynote Speaker: Steve Lambert

    Online registration begins in June.
    graduates
    WATCH Graduation
    You are invited to join us on June 9th in Renton for the annual WATCH Homeschool Graduation.

    If you have a high schooler and are curious about this wonderful opportunity for the future, we encourage you to come and be inspired by these families

    .    This year’s graduation will be Saturday, June 9, 2007, at 1:00 p.m.
      First Evangelical Presbyterian Church
    (19800 108th Ave SE) in Renton, Washington.
    WATCH Membership
    WATCH is  able to bring events and conferences to the homeschoolers of Washington because of the support of our members.

    WATCH membership
    is $35.00/year

    Thank you for supporting WATCH!
    Exhibitors!  We have just a few spots left for our August conference.  If you would like to be included please let us know by contacting Dale Kintz at exhibitor@WATCHhome.org
     
    Mother Day Blessings!
     
    The WATCH Board

    14300 NE 20th Av D102-187 | Vancouver, WA | 98686  | 360.326.8348

Top Tags - Weblog

[no tags]

Heavenly_Homeschool

  • Visit Heavenly_Homeschool's Xanga Site
    • Name: Heidi
    • Country: United States
    • State: Washington
    • Member Since: 12/7/2005
    • Premium

Welcome to My World...

blog image










About Me

  • I have been married to the love of my life, Jay, for 16 years. We have six wonderful kids ranging in age from 14 to 7 months. Jay is a worship pastor ... we've been in full time ministry for as long as we've been married, with only a few short "breaks". We're a homeschooling family (anyone who knew me "back in the day" would laugh themselves silly at that fact) and we love it! Our date nights usually consist of driving through a coffee stand, and then heading off to get a few groceries, sans children! Hey, anytime alone together now qualifies as a date! When I'm not doing laundry I like to write in my journal or read with the children. During the summer, we are avid garage sale junkies and during the winter, I enjoy a steaming hot cup of English Breakfast tea with homemade bread in lieu of garage saleing! http://xf7.xanga.com/b27b06e263d3031478913/t21936155.gif