14 days of homeschool

This is not mine! I received this in an email from a friend and just had to share it.

14 Days of Homeschooling
To the tune of "Twelve Days of Christmas."

On the first day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can you
homeschool legally?"

On the second day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Are they
socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the third day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Do you give
them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the fourth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about
P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool
legally?"

On the fifth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "YOU ARE SO
STRANGE! What about P.E., do you give them tests, are they
socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the sixth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How long will
you homeschool, YOU ARE S0 STRANGE, what about P.E. , do you give
them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the seventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Look at
what they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO
STRANGE!, what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they
socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the eighth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Why do you
do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you homeschool,
YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E. do you give them tests, are they
socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the ninth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "They'll miss
the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how long
will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!, what about P.E. do you give
them tests, are they socialized, do you homeschool legally?"

On the tenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "What about
graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what
they're missing, how long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE!,
what about P.E., do you give them tests, are they socialized, can you
homeschool legally?"

On the eleventh day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "I could
never do that, what about graduation, they'll miss the prom, why do
you do this, look at what they're missing, how long will you
homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, what about P.E., do you give them
tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the twelfth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "Can they go
to college, I could never do that, what about graduation, they'll
miss the prom, why do you do this, look at what they're missing, how
long will you homeschool, YOU ARE SO STRANGE, What about P.E., do you
give them tests, are they socialized, can you homeschool legally?"

On the thirteenth day of homeschool I thoughtfully replied: "They Can
go to college, yes you can do this, they can have graduation, we
don't like the prom, we do it cuz we like it, they are missing
nothing, we'll homeschool forever, WE ARE NOT STRANGE!, We give them
P.E., and we give them tests, they are socialized, AND WE HOMESCHOOL
LEGALLY!

On the fourteenth day of homeschool my neighbor said to me, "How can
I get started, why didn't you tell me, where do I buy curriculum,
when is the next conference, WILL PEOPLE THINK WE'RE STRANGE? I think
we can do this, if you will help us, we'll join a sports team, and
we'll homeschool legally."

Learning to Cook

This actually happened last fall, but it is such a cute story that I just had to share it.

We spent last week at Grampa Roy's and Gramma Ruby's. Apples were in, and so the girls spent most of their time climbing the tree, picking the apples, peeling and cutting up the apples, and then convincing Gramma to help them with the crust so they could make apple pies. We arrived on Monday afternoon and left on Friday morning, so in the three days in between, they made a total of six apple pies. I wasn't exaggerating when I said it is what they spent the most time doing, especially since we were at Norway Lake most of the day Thursday.

We arrived home Friday evening, and on Sunday Summer was playing around in the kitchen. I asked her what she was doing and she told me that she was making apple pie for Jacob's birthday. AAAAWW, isn't that sweet? Just wait, I haven't got to the punch line yet. Don't skip ahead either, wait for it.

Gramma sent us home with a large bag of apples and so Summer was working away in the kitchen, while the rest of us proceeded to go about our own things.

When it was just about time for dinner, I was upstairs organizing the linen closet when Don brought me a pie tin. It had an apple pie in it which I am quite sure was delicious (I know because I ate a little bite off the edge. I would have had a whole piece except the entire middle was missing. I thought perhaps she had given it to Jacob (he's only one and doesn't have great manners yet) and he ate out the middle, that would make sense.

But, no that's not what had happened.

When asked about the missing middle, and by middle, I mean pretty much the entire pie except the outer edge of the crust, she replied,

"I ate a little to try it and make sure it was good enough for Jacob."

Selling it!

For those of you who have been following our story - We are at the point of GUNG HO marketing strategies. I have applied for a spot at INCH and am sending them an application to host a workshop, speak in front of the group, put on my presentation.
So, here it is: My Pitch!
Comments Welcome!

Thank you so much for inviting me to tell you my story. My name is Corinne Johnson. I am the author and creator or Vacation Education Books. These are travel guides for families who love to learn. They will take your family on a journey around the world, as you study science, history, geography, literature and more without ever leaving your living room. These are fabulous books, and we hope to sell a lot of them at our booth.

But, the books are only the end of the story, so let me begin at the beginning.

I met my husband in 1993, and began to ask God to show us a path that we could lead together; a journey that we could travel, side by side, not two roads that often meet, but one road that we would follow into eternity. Through trials and tribulations, God answered my prayer, but it took many years. When I read the old testament, and I see God at work in the Israelite nation, I am reminded that I am also one of His blessed children. He led them through the desert (not always pleasant), and He looked past their disobedient hearts and gave them Grace, forgiveness and blessings anyway. He did the same for me and my family. My husband and I will be at INCH, selling our books at a vendor booth, while our five children spend a weekend with Grandma, but except for these unique situations, we are a family that works together, travels together, and learns together. God has given me everything I asked for, and more than I could have ever imagined.

It has not been an easy journey.

We have over the years made decisions that God has called us to, and faced much opposition.

When we said yes to homeschooling, our families were extremely opposed to it. We didn’t know anyone who was doing it, and people told us it was illegal, immoral, and just not right.

When we said yes to letting God determine our family size, we were criticized and ridiculed by family and friends. They still think we are crazy!

When we said yes to having a home birth, we were bombarded with horror stories showcasing everything that could possibly go wrong.

When we said yes to leaving secular careers to pursue a road less traveled, we were questioned still.

When we’ve said yes to God, He has showered us with blessings greater than any opposition we have ever faced.

We have not always said yes to God, but I can also tell you the ease of following others is quickly forgotten in the pain and agony of saying no to God.

The road is not always smooth, we don’t always see the map the same way, and there are many hills.

As we approach each hill in the road, and wonder what might be on the other side, we are sometimes afraid to continue on. When Joshua led the Israelites across the dry river bed of the Jordan while God held the rushing waters at bay, I imagine they also were sometimes afraid to continue on. Some of the hills we’ve been up against have seemed greater even than rushing waters. God commanded the Israelites to pick up stones from the river bed and stack them up, so that when their children asked “what are these stones for?”, they would answer them, “This is what the Lord our God has done for us.”

As I share with the audience the stories that were once mountains in our path, but now I look back and see nothing but piles of stones, I hope to encourage and inspire them to look at their own journey and see the hills that have turned to stones. I will ask my audience to point out those stones to their children and say, “This is what the Lord our God has done for us.”

Then, when we have done that, remember to keep these in mind as we continue down a road where all we can see is the upcoming hill. We have no idea what is waiting for us on the other side. But, we can go forward confidently when we know that we are on the road that God has made, and we keep checking that rear view mirror and see those piles of stones. Whatever challenges you are facing, whatever difficulties you think that you cannot overcome, see what God has done, and do not be afraid.

When can I pause?

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed, but mostly grateful, as I sit hear writing this post. My children are quietly (well, mostly quietly) resting (sort of) in the next room. We are at the Kalahari Resort for the Unschoolers Winter Waterpark Gathering (nearly 1000 in attendance I've heard). We are here for the week, and it should be a time to mellow and relax. We are here to network, and speak, raffle off some product, and maybe even make a few sales. But, we are also here as a reward for finishing the second book.
Yes, it is finished! At least from my end, it is complete, unless I get an email from the printer with something that I have to change. The official release date is March, 2008. We will be introducing it at the Illinois In Home Convention for the first time.
It is all very exciting and getting it finished meant that we could take some time off and hang out at the resort. But, we have been go go go since we left the house last Friday. I keep moving, in slow motion, and thinking when can we stop. There is the water park (Super Fun!), conference events, speakers, workshops, grocery shopping to stock the kitchen, clearance sale shopping, mall shopping, restocking books at stores along the way (Really really excited that it is necessary because that means the items are selling out, but also somewhat overwhelmed by the enormity of it all). There is just so much to do and I can't help but wonder, when will I pause?
What are we doing today, the kids want to know. Could we do nothing? Would that be alright? Well, the adrenaline is pumping and everyone is excited to get out and explore the resort. So, unpause and back to changing babies and searching for life jackets, making sure no one loses their suit, or shoes or anything else along the way.
And, what might we do tomorrow?
How about nothing, just for one day, wouldn't that be alright?
Doubtful.

God is Good! Jan. 10, 2008

I haven't written lately I think because I was waiting for something extraordinary to happen. Looking for a story in our life that had an ending that I could share. But, everything is still very much unknown for us. We put the car and the house up for sale in October, but here they still are. We continue working on the second book, promoting the first and getting by.

When I look around and think about what we have seen God do, I sometimes think there is nothing to share unless it's something big. But, then I realized that it is the small miracles, the little details that God works out for us that are the most encouraging. It is amazing to hear and experience the BIG things that God does; but often, God is not in the fire, God is not in the earthquake, God is not in the strong wind, God is the still small voice. God is in the little details.

Don has not worked outside the home since October. We had no sure plan except to follow God, and see where he would lead us. We thought God would sell the house right away since that was the only chance we had of making any money. Then, the house didn't sell, one month and then another. Now, we are in January, and AMAZINGLY, all of our bills are paid! Even the house payment!

We prayed for God to either sell the house or show us a way to pay for it. We were mentally and emotionally prepared for a foreclosure (if that was God's plan), but in our hearts we didn't believe that was the right way to go. We offered the house up for sale, not because we wanted it to sell, but as an offering for God to do with as He wished. His will not ours!

Don prayed fervently for God to show him how to lead his family. He was home so that we could work together to raise and educate our children, and so that I would be able to continue working on our book series; but he felt there was something more for him to do. He asked God to show him a way to provide financially without having to leave his family behind.

We started selling things from our house on Ebay (it's January in Michigan). We aren't in a good position to have a yard sale, but if the house sells, all this stuff has to go somewhere. Then, some friends donated some items for us to sell. Then, we received requests to sell on consignment. All of this while at the same time we were reading books about marketing and making profit on Ebay (so that we could make the most possible with our household items). We were confident that when we ran out of stuff to sell, then God would provide another way. Even after selling nearly $2000 worth of stuff in the last three months, we now have more "inventory" in our house than we did when we first began to clean things out.

We still don't know what God has planned for us, but we see Him at work.

My mom gave us $$$ to use to further our business. We looked at all the ways we could use that money, and then we stumbled upon a homeschooling conference in Ohio (only five hours away). It fits into our schedule, is exactly the target market for our book series and the only fee to get in is the cost of the room. We have to stay at the resort to participate in the conference.

Every step of the way, God has provided everything that we have needed. We are blessed.

Keep checking our website for updates on our book titles.

vacationeducationbooks.com

and our Ebay auctions at vebstore.com (vacation education book store)

Magic Kingdom is due out March 2008.