Homeschool Moms' Winter Summit

My friend, Megan talked me into coming, and I thought, it'll be a nice break from the winter doldrums. I've been to a couple homeschool conventions, been to lots of seminars, webinars, read countless blogs, so I was really going just for a 'mommy break'. Time away from the everyday pressures of my husband, house, and kids. 

You are probably thinking the same thing if you've seen all my posts on Facebook.  

But here's the deal.  You don't know NOTHIN'. 

This summit absolutely blessed me from the first moment to the last. And not in an "I'm-away-from-my-kids-for-more-than-two-minutes-and-I-am-speaking-to-other-adults" kinda way. Noooooo.  

A life-changing way,  

Ladies, I walked into that conference center burdened.  Burdened and struggling and past my breaking point.  If you see me in real life and not just on the interwebs, you may not have seen that side.  But my husband and my kids can tell you that Nazi-mom had taken permanent residence in our home and I hated it (and I'm pretty sure they did too).  I expected guilt over all that I was doing wrong - my attitude, my (lack of) quiet times, my general not-doing-enough. So the walls went up.  I was expecting to learn ways to "Mom" better, to homeschool better. Get the practical tips, maybe one of them would magically transform my problems. 

Then Roxanne Parks gets up and says that the problems I'm having originate from the person sitting in my chair.  OUCH.  Here we go with the guilt.  Or so I thought.

I was wrong, ladies.  These speakers and leaders.  They've been there. They cast no stones.  There was no guilt. There was only God's words flowing from these amazing women.  It was a soothing balm, not needles poking.

Roxanne challenged us to not waste our time and money by just hearing what was said, but to leave a different woman.  

I cannot describe what happened in the last 28 hours other than that God's hand was resting on the Embassy Suites in Norman, Oklahoma. 

4 hours after walking through the door, expecting the ordinary, I was weeping, having been confronted by the Almighty. 

The workshops, the speakers, the entire summit did not really revolve around homeschooling. It's hard to really describe, other than this: homeschool moms have unique challenges and burdens. But this summit wasn't really practical tips for those, it was merely a group of women that understood those challenges and burdens. 

The summit was really about relationships. Relationships with your husband. Relationships with your kids. And a relationships with your Creator.  

If you know any mom that doesn't struggle with those things, you obviously don't know any moms. 

So here I am, in my car, 28 hours after walking in, letting these words pour out of me because I'm pretty sure my head and heart will explode if I don't type N-O-W. Now.  

At the closing address, Roxanne asked if you had one word to describe this weekend.  The room was silent.  But I had one.  

Life-changing

My life is changed.  I will never be the same. God used every word spoken this weekend to feed my dry and thirsty and weary soul. My burdened, battered, ready-to-give-up heart. I have new hope. I have TRUE hope.  

I choose the easy yoke. 

So, why am I telling you this?  Really for one reason.  You should be here next year. 

"But, Lindsay, I don't homeschool!"  

Do you have a husband? Children? Then you'll be blessed by this as well. 

"But the cost!" 

Worth.  Every.  Penny. And this is from a spend-thrift. The first night made the cost worth it.  There are hundreds of door prizes, gift bags, a real, actual, adult meal on Saturday, snacks, amazing speakers, and TIME AWAY FROM THOSE LITTLE HEATHENS... Ahem, children.  Trust me.  You will not feel like you've been cheated in any way. 

"But my children are perfect angels and my husband and I have the most ah-maze-ing marriage after 390 years of being together."  

You are a liar and that means you should most definitely come. You need a come to Jesus moment. And also, I might have just thrown up a little. 

"But I'm too old/my kids are too young/whatever"
Pooh.  Like you can't impart wisdom or get wisdom for later.

There is one reason, and one reason only why you should not attend this summit.  

You ready?

The only reason you should not attend this summit is...............

If you have a Y chromosome.  That's right.  This is a girls only conference, so men, just back away.  

Otherwise, no excuses, ladies.  Make plans.  I do not get paid, compensated, acknowledged in any way for telling you this.  This is my ministry to you.  You need this. Promise. And you probably know someone else who needs it too. So invite them. Carpool. Get matching shirts and be adorable like that.  Have a slumber party at the hotel, because it is pretty awesome.  Or. Bring the whole family and let the hubby take care of the kids while you enjoy other adult companionship. Hubby can take them to the awesome indoor pool while you find your peace. 

Just be here next year. 

http://www.homeschoolwintersummit.com/