heartofdakota.com

Hello, fellow HODies. It's been awhile since I've posted, but I've tried to keep up with all of your posts and news. I have some really exciting news to share and HOD plays a part in it!

Today, my dd, Riley, won an art contest. A news crew came out to our house this morning and filmed her receiving the news today that she won! It was incredibly exciting for us. She won a week at a dude ranch in Wyoming for our whole family. She loves horses, she loves nature, she loves art, and she loves the Word of God which were all the ingredients to this art contest. We are so thrilled for her. You can see the news story at this link: http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/news/local/re ... p_20090414. You can also see the webpage the contest has created for her at http://www.kidstalkaboutGod.org/riley.

I wanted to let Carrie know about this because HOD has played a part in this. The story opens with a shot of Riley's portfolio and shows several of her drawings and art projects that we have done this year with HOD. If it wasn't for our fabulous year with Bigger Hearts, we wouldn't have had that portfolio to share. The story was very complimentary of homeschooling and I was so happy for that.

And for those of you who have kids who enjoy art, the contest is being extended for another year and will have at least six more winners for next year. The organization is publishing an online Book of John that is illustrated by children. The ages are 5-12 years old to enter. They send out three questions at a time from the book of John and the kids draw an illustration and a written answer for one of those questions. New questions are sent out once they get enough entries for the previous three questions. You can enter as many times as you want. It is a really neat organization and their website has lots of free currriculum and helps for Bible teaching. It is http://www.kidstalkaboutGod.org.

Thanks for letting me share my joy with you all. Riley has been quite ill since January and there have been times we have felt despair during this time. We are just in awe of God and His timing to bring her this gift at the tail end of a very long struggle for her. He is so good. One thing we try to teach the kids all the time is that God is completely sovereign and He always has a purpose for what He is allowing in our lives and it is always for our good. Riley has been learning this during the past few months and it has been hard. I just know that God delighted to give her this very good gift today and I want to give Him the glory and thanks for that.

Oh Tiffini,

This just makes me want to cry. What a precious gift the Lord gave your family today. It's one that you would hold onto for a LIFETIME!!!!

Wow! That is wonderful news! I am so happy for Riley! Way to go, Riley! God is Awesome.
Congrats!

WOW Wow WOW
Congratulations Riley That picture is so beautiful I'm so excited and happy for you Praise God
Way to go, little girl

Tiffini - WOW! I watched the news report online, and you can be so proud of Riley!!! Her picture was absolutely beautiful. I loved the way she drew Jesus. She also handled herself so well in the interview and while finding out she won. She just seems like a precious daughter with a heart already full of love for God. So, now I guess it's time for you to saddle up your horses and hit the trails, right? I hope you and your family have a wonderful time at the ranch, and tell Riley all of her HODie moms are super proud of her!!!

In Christ,
Julie

Tiffini - I just watched the news report, too. How exciting for your family! I'm so glad that Riley was able to have this wonderful blessing after some difficult months. Have a great time on the trails!

Kathleen

WOW, Tiffani,
That was so precious! Thanks for sharing. I am so happy for you all. Riley, is so talented!

God Bless you all!

What a blessing that your daughter won! Congratulations. I am amazed at the picture and what she wrote on it, gave me tears in my eyes. It just so confirms how blessed we are to have HOD to help guide teach our children and help teach them about our Lord and savior Jesus Christ who is most important!
Many blessings and thank you for sharing!

How awesome!! What a wonderful representation of homeschooling and God's grace. Congratulations

That is so exciting! How Wonderful!

Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful! Tiffini- Thank you for sharing with us. Riley is an amazing artist. Her attention to detail is impeccable. She deserved to win alright!!! Have a great time in Wyoming at the dude ranch. Yeah!!!!!

Wow, how exciting! Congrats Riley!
It's so wonderful to see homeschooling portrayed in a good light on the news. It's also encouraging to those of us with younger children in the HOD programs to see great successes from older children using the program.

Wow! What an amazing picture! Your child definitly has talent, and what a blessing to have parents that recognize and encourage her! Blessings to you all, enjoy your trip

Way to go, Riley!!
CONGRATULATIONS!!

Thank you, everyone, for your enthusiastic responses! I showed them to Riley a little while ago. This has been such an exciting time for her and it does my mother's heart so much good to just watch it all.

It really is unusual and neat to see a news story that paints homeschooling in a positive light. We were so thankful for the reporter that came and her kindness and openness to our choice to homeschool. We know that God definitely had a hand in orchestrating all of that!