Quote from Forum Archives on April 25, 2002, 11:00 pm

Posted by: homenews <homenews@...>

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HOPE CHEST HOME SCHOOL NEWS

MORE EXTRAS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

APRIL 25, 2002

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Hello, dear Hope Chest readers!

No, this is still not the regular newsletter yet!   I told you all I would be sending out the "April" issue soon, but two of the articles are still not done yet, and I think I'm going to push it to the beginning of May.  However, there was at least one time sensitive item in it, so I am sending you that and two related ones -- all Internet resources.  Thanks for your patience!  Here are a few "meantime" extras and announcements: 

• Update from the Knowles House
• Write-On Creative Writing e-mail course -- summer session
• Sowing in Tears e-mail newsletter for parents of prodigals
• Easterling Expressions and Word Weavers by Lisa Easterling
• Update on Baby William Goforth

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UPDATE FROM THE KNOWLES HOUSE

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It's been more hectic than usual around our house lately.  What is it about spring that revs up the schedule of a home school mom?

Thad has been working 70+ hours a week lately during the Downtown YMCA renovation.  EEK!  Poor guy!  In some ways, his overtime hours give me a little more flexibility to write (while the cat's away...), but it also requires that I step up my efforts around the house.  I am thankful that Joanna has volunteered to get the boys ready for bed each night, and Lydia has taken over Joanna's old job of straightening up the living room.  That sure helps!

I am also desperately trying to finish writing my newest book, Common Sense Excellence.  I thought I had it done, but then I had the strongest urge to expand it to cover preschool to fifth grade instead of just up to third grade.  That should make it much more useable! At any rate, I plan to print an almost-final draft this weekend to copy and give to my editing team.  Once they give me their feedback, I'll make any necessary changes, and then get it printed up and ready to go as a finished product.  When I send out the next Hope Chest around May 1, I'll give you a more complete update, including the table of contents.

I went to another funeral this morning.  I had actually never met Louise Larson, but her daughter Barbara Harkness is a good friend of mine, so I went to provide a little support.  I choked up quite a bit when I got to the Episcopal church where the service was held, because it is where my husband's family has had funerals for his father and grandparents.  Anyway, back to Mrs. Larson's service. Though I have never even seen a visual picture of her, I got a clear "life legacy" picture from the eulogy.  This dear 81 year old saint loved and served her God and her family.  That's how I want to be remembered when I get old, and even before then.  I'm afraid I have a long way to go to achieve domestic sainthood.

For instance, Thad begged me this morning to buy some toilet paper when I went to the grocery store today.  I bought a lot of other things (lots of food for Julia's 13th birthday slumber party tomorrow night!), but toilet paper is the one thing I forgot.  I know a half roll isn't going to go far in a family of 10, so I broke out the extra purse-sized packs of Kleenex.  I'm way too tired to go back to the store, so that's going to have to do until I take the girls to choir practice tomorrow afternoon.  (To my credit, I must say that I actually had bought enough TP to get us through the week, but Andrew and Micah flooded the bathroom yesterday and soaked two rolls.)  Sigh...  I wish I could say that toilet paper was the worst of my problems!  I can be such an airhead at times!

Oh, and I had two teeth filled yesterday (top and in between), and was just informed that I need a couple of crowns this year.  These old teeth ain't what they used to be!  I brought along some of my favorite relaxation music to listen to on their little headset, and cranked it up loud enough so the dentist and his assistant could hear it as they worked. 

By the way, if you live in the Orlando area (that's maybe 10% of you) I will be presenting a workshop and selling books at the 1st Annual Regent Academy Book Fair on June 15 at Metro Life Church.  Let me know if you would like details on this!

I also wanted to extend a welcome to those of you in Australia, New Zealand and Asia who read about the Hope Chest list from Nancy Campbell's Above Rubies magazine.  The new issue should reach the USA readers in the next couple of weeks.  I'm eager to see it, since I have an article on mentoring in it!

Well, that's all from me for right now.  On to the announcements!  (And *I* have to go chase the last batch of giggly girls off to bed and take the trash to the curb!  Thad should be home around midnight -- if we are "lucky" -- but it will more likely be around 2 AM!  I'm going to try to be very good and not stay up any later!)

P.S. Mary is standing behind my shoulder making wisecracks about all my typos.  So what if I spelled teeth "teetch"?  I'm a teetcher, aren't I?  Now she's sticking a chocolate bar wrapper in front of my nose!  I'd better send this and get out of here before she thinks of some other method of torture!

Blessings,

Virginia Knowles

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WRITE-ON! E-MAIL CREATIVE WRITING COURSE

by Gwen Simmons

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Gwen Simmons is now taking enrollment for the summer session of WRITE ON! For those of you who may not be familiar with it, WRITE ON! is a writing course created by a home school mom for home school students through e-mail. WRITE ON! ignites enthusiasm in both the reluctant and the eager writer by creatively incorporating the student's own interests into many of the assignments. The student receives a personal critique of each assignment. Gwen also now offers a second course called WRITE ON AGAIN! To see sample lessons, read testimonials, and learn more about the instructor, visit the WRITE ON! website at www.writeonagain.com or e-mail Gwen at [email protected]

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SOWING IN TEARS E-MAIL NEWSLETTER

by Gregg and Cathie Soden

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"Sowing in Tears" is a ministry devoted to the encouragement of parents who are dealing with a prodigal child, whether that child is at home or away. Our purpose is to create a newsletter which contains testimonies, scriptures, lists of helpful resources and prayer requests contributed by other parents willing to share. Our prayer is that struggling and weary parents may find acceptance and support as they continue to scatter seeds of God's word, even while in tears, for their prodigal. Anyone who could benefit from receiving it may contact us at: [email protected] to be put onto our distribution list. And, please, don't hesitate to send us your prayer requests. May the Lord strengthen and comfort you while awaiting your prodigal's return home. Sincerely in Christ, Gregg & Cathie Soden

Cathie also writes: "Our purpose in wanting to start a support network is to offer what we believe parents who have faithfully parented and yet find themselves in this situation need: acceptance, encouragement, and to break out of their isolation. We are not experts on adolescent conduct disorders, nor are we experts on Biblical formulas for successful parenting. We believe that many parents have stopped sowing God's word with their children and others because they have followed these formulas and have not met with "success." We are parents wanting to encourage other parents to pick up their sacks of seeds again and begin sowing, even while they are crying for their rebellious child. There are other parents who need to hear what they have to say about the Lord and the hope that is in Him."

Cathie assures us that ALL CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE KEPT CONFIDENTIAL!

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EASTERLING EXPRESSIONS WRITING SERVICE

by Lisa Easterling

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I have established a new Wordweavers e-group just for homeschooled students
www.groups.yahoo.com/group/HSWordweavers.  I also run the HomeEd4Him e-group
for Christian home educators.  I am a 15-year home educator with experience
in Pre-K through high school.  I provide articles, essays, and public speaking to encourage and further the cause of home education.

Here is Lisa's more "formal" blurb: 

Lisa Easterling is the freelancer behind Lisa Easterling Expressions, a
writing and editorial service that creatively combines personality and
professionalism.  Lisa is a 15-year home educator with more than 20 years of
experience writing specialized poetry and prose, utilizing personal detail
to create sentiments that touch the heart.  She has coached creative writing
with the Wordweavers Writers Groups for the past nine years, and feels a
personal calling to encourage budding writers.  Lisa has written a wide
variety of articles on topics related to parenting, family, education, and
mothers working at home.  Her work has been published by such sources as
TheFamilyCorner.com, Homeschooling Horizons magazine, Hope Chest Home School
News, Home Edventures magazine, the FCCB Adventure, Downhome Digest,
ChristianWAHM.com, Christian E-Authors, My Woman2Woman Network, FLYlady.net, The Invisible Connection, and the Learning Is Life ezine, to name a few.
She has a children's book currently being published by Writers-Exchange
E-Publishing (and subsequently by Coville Publishing) and is presently
working on three new books of various genres.
 
Lisa Easterling Expressions
www.lisaeasterling.com
The Wordweaver Writers Groups
www.wordweaver.5u.com
Email: [email protected]
 

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Update on Baby William Goforth

from Richard "Little Bear" Wheeler

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(Virginia's note:  For those who haven't heard of William yet, he was born very prematurely in January. It's a miracle that he is even alive!)

April 25, 2002

 

PRAYER ALERT!

Despite William's laser surgery 2 weeks ago, the ROP (Retinopathy of Prematurity) continued to progress, with more development in his right eye. Therefore, there was need for the doctor to repeat the laser surgery on the baby's eyes today. Although it was not what we had hoped would occur, seemingly, repeat surgery to correct ROP is not uncommon. Presently William's eyes have the appearance of functioning properly, yet there remains concern for the preservation of vision as he matures.

 

For the following immediate and urgent needs, we ask for you to please join us in prayer that:

a.  the retina would not detach, which could cause total blindness.

b.  there would be no bleeding as a reaction to the surgery.

c.  this second laser surgery would result in the desired outcome of preserved vision for Baby William.

 

We are ever thankful for all of you—our faithful partners in prayer who call upon our Great Lord.

 

Great is our Lord, and of great power. His understanding is infinite (Psalm 147:5).