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This weekend, I attended the NCHE homeschool conference, and it was wonderful! God definitely had some word for me, and I'm so excited to get our year started! Now I have to wait until Fall to do it! XD My two favorite speakers were Andrew Pudewa and Todd Wilson.

But, the main reason I posted about the conference in here, is because these same things were brought up in every single session that I attended:

1. Character
2. Reading good books to your children (things written before the 1930's.)
3. Poetry memorization

Doesn't that sound just like what we're about to focus on in HOD? That was very encouraging. My main focus for our homeschool has switched. My main goal for this year will be to read out loud to my kids and do Bible study every day. If we don't quite finish the Math or Science because of it, that's ok.

Daph, I'm so glad that you had a nice time at the conference and that it was such an affirmation to you. Its always wonderful to have our plans confirmed through the words of other godly people and feel that leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I'm sure you are going to have an awesome year! I enjoyed the NCHE conference too. I attended a lot of classes on struggling learners and how the brain works. It was what I needed at this point in time. Isn't it wonderful how God works that out so that what we need is available when we need it?!

I did miss seeing HOD at the conference. I walked by the spot that they had last year many times and sighed. It just wasn't the same without them, but I already have my HOD materials for this fall so it was ok. I had fun shopping for other fun games and extra reading books. I can hardly keep my dc in extra reading books these days which is a nice problem to have.

I hate that we didn't plan a HOD meet up at the conference. We could have a HODie gathering even though HOD wasn't there. I wish I had thought of that before the conference.

I hate that we didn't meet up! Next year, we have to make that a priority! Starbucks is right across the street! I'm sure we must have passed each other at some point, too! lol Argh!

I know what you mean: I usually buy all my curriculum at the conference. It was strange to not buy it this year. I did enjoy buying a lot of extra things, though. I picked up quite a few books from the 1800's and I'm thrilled about those. We read one of them in one sitting last night! My daughter would not let me put it down! Yet another affirmation that I'm doing the right thing. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to follow with the rich language, but I had her explain what was happening in between chapters (yet another HOD thing) and she knew what was going on!

I did hit Miller Pads and Paper up - A LOT! My friends who went to the conference with me made fun of me because of it. I went to their booth three times, and the man gave me a free bag of stuff because of it! LOL Now, there's a running gag that they're all going to go to Miller Pads and Paper and say, "Daphene sent me." I do love my paper products! HAHA! I have a notebook for every subject now, though, and nature journals, and I don't even know what else! My girls adore their stuff, though! They even have blank comic books that kids can design themselves!

I'm beginning to sound like a walking advertisement, so I'll stop...

I am here in NC as well - but didn't make it to the conference. I really would like to go next year. I'd love to have an HOD meetup! That would be fantastic!

Yay, that would be wonderful, Larissa! I have a cousin by marriage with your name! I'd never heard it before her; it's so pretty! You will not regret going to the conference. It's such a blessing to me every year! I honestly don't know if I'd make it each year without it. LOL Even if you don't go to the sessions, just being in the same building with thousands of other homeschoolers is such a blessing. You feel normal for a little while. LOL

You feel normal for a little while. LOL

I did hit Miller Pads and Paper up - A LOT! My friends who went to the conference with me made fun of me because of it. I went to their booth three times, and the man gave me a free bag of stuff because of it! LOL Now, there's a running gag that they're all going to go to Miller Pads and Paper and say, "Daphene sent me." I do love my paper products! HAHA! I have a notebook for every subject now, though, and nature journals, and I don't even know what else! My girls adore their stuff, though! They even have blank comic books that kids can design themselves!

I too enjoy Miller Pad and Paper. I waited until the last day to visit them and was so much more controlled this year than usual. I got lots of construction paper and a new art game plus a few notebooks. It was much less than I usually get, but it still almost filled up my cart. That's awesome that you got free stuff! It sounds like you will never live it down though!