Home schooling across the country is booming. Our home school groups are growing too. For example, co-op enrollment in my group jumped about 33% from last semester! This is good news for a country clearly in need of strong leadership from the next generation. This alternate form of education we call home schooling, with discipleship starting inside the home,  has proven to be an excellent tool for growing leaders that are willing to stand for what they believe.

Last fall, over 80 leaders crowded into the 2016 South Texas Leader’s Conference held at The Woodlands, Texas to enjoy informative workshops and see Ely Butuyan of LIGHT Katy Co-op selected as the 2016 South Texas Leader of the Year! It was exciting that she had been selected, because having met her, it was easy to see what an impact she has in Katy, Texas.

I spent several days at the Convention in The Woodlands and was privileged to meet many dedicated home school group leaders at the Texas Leader’s Conference on Jul. 21, 2016. Afterward, I spent the evening and the next two days at the THSC booth. Although my feet were tired, I was constantly refreshed as I enjoyed the stories that so many shared. I love meeting people, and through these encounters this weekend, it was evident that most home school parents seek community. New moms and dads came seeking answers about the right curriculum, but during the conversations they expressed a great need for connection, guidance, and wisdom. I strongly believe local home school groups can meet these needs.

North Texas home school group leaders recently attended the North Texas Leader's Conference. Along with informative sessions from Andrew Pudewa, Tim Lambert, and David Gibbs III, we had the pleasure of meeting Abby Longley. Chad and Abby Longley of Big Country Home Educators (BCHE) were selected as our 2016 North Texas Leaders of the Year. They received many glowing nominations from the membership and leadership teams of BCHE!

Have you hugged your home school group leader this month? Do you know that most home school group leaders are servant-hearted volunteers who have a desire to encourage you and to help support your home school? Do you know that many of them must lean on their own families to help them get the job done, and there is often so much more going on behind the scenes that you may not realize? Did you know that long after you leave a field trip and well after the last class meeting of the week, your board of leaders is working faithfully to help your group thrive?

The beginning of the year brings about a time of reflection. As I was pondering all the ups and downs of this past year, I went into my small group class at church. We had spent a little extra time lingering over our study of Revelation last fall, and having just completed this, we began our next study, which is a study of Genesis. I contemplate that it seems so fitting that we would go back to the beginning as the new year begins.

I have spent some time considering new beginnings lately as my children are beginning to get older. It’s difficult when you’ve been a mom for over 20 years: most of my children are grown and the youngest two are not so little anymore. They simply don’t seem to need me like they used to!