Shawn and I decided to take on a new project this year. We've been working on reorganizing the home school group at our church. Many of our home school families have kids in both "Senior" (7th - 12th grade) and "Junior" (1st-6th grade) groups. We needed to plan activities that met the needs of each age group, while managing time by scheduling them together.
We decided to plan two "classes" per year, that would meet the county requirements for "electives." The kids are taking an Evangelism class with visitation until December. Then in January, the Senior group will be taking Speech, and the Juniors will be taking Music.
With demanding schedules, we only planned a few field trips. The group will be touring the National Cryptologic Museum this semester, and the Spy Museum, next semester, which will include an afternoon touring Washington D.C. museums of choice.
Family activities included a Christmas fellowship, Bowling Night, and Summer Break Fellowship/Field Day in the spring.
Throughout the year our church has some amazing guest speakers, Bible College professors, missionaries, and visitors. We've centered some activities, such as dinners, to get the kids around and interacting with them. These pictures are of our dinner with Dr. Oats from Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, WI. He was teaching "Problems in Evangelicalism II," a module Bible class, last week.
Lastly, we set aside one night a month just for the parents. In the past trying to plan a meeting around every ones schedule was an impossible task. Keeping the meeting the same night, time and place every month, such as 7:00pm on the second Monday at Panera Bread, will give everyone the opportunity to plan their schedules around the meeting.
The dads "Iron Sharpening Time" will be working through "Building a Godly Home" by Woodrow Kroll.
The moms will alternate volunteers to give a 5-10 min. devotional/challenge, that center around homeschooling, or being a Godly mother/wife. The "Mom's Night Out" can include sharing praises, update calendars/activities, and spending some time in prayer.
We're pretty excited about the wonderful group of homeschooling families we have in our church this year. We are praying the ABC Homeschool Group gives opportunities of Christ-centered service and fellowship, as well as, aid and encourage families in their efforts to educate their children.
... my Mother-n-law who offered to have Thanksgiving at her house...
... my parents, who spent the day with us ...
... my dear hubby, WITH A MUSTACHE! ...
... our two puppies, (who got table food for the first time!) and their ability to wait for the "take it" command ...
... my very sweet daughter ...
... laughing and being silly ...
... for times and seasons ...
... for Annapolis Power Boat School! ...
... and calm water (for when hubby drives! Hee hee!) =). ...
... for cousins - especially pregnant ones! ...
... for this really good Bay Bridge shot, FINALLY! ...
... and this one too!!! ...
... for living in the beautiful state of Maryland...
... for our country, and military ...
... for my son, who keeps my heart beating on a regular basis ...
... and my gorilla husband, who know just the right way to test the sturdiness of the tree house he's building for Dylan! ...
... for electric fences so border collie puppies can R U N ! 
... And most of all, I am THANKFUL that the Lord SAVED me! 
... And most of all, I am THANKFUL that the Lord SAVED me! 
