Do you get that little rainbow spinning wheel when you hit your computer keys too many times or when you have too many windows open at once? I have to say that that is one of the most frustrating things for me about my computer. I do not have time to sit and wait for the tiny little information processors to go through all the motions of my cursor and clicks of my keys. Many times, I’ve typed an entire line and have been unable to see what has been entered. It’s become a joke in our home--the little spinning wheel that begs you to sit patiently. Have you ever been frustrated in that way?

Secretly, I sometimes wish I could apply my own spinning wheel to my weekly schedule. If only I had a little more time in my day, I could actually get everything done.  I think we all have felt the desire for a change at one time or another, a time where we simply couldn’t do a thing, and it wasn’t even our choice, just the way things turned out. We hear the continual click of the keys as our days fly by, and watch the movement of our cursor as we race from one event to another. We fill our schedules with chores, housework, careers, and extracurricular activities like sports and the arts. Our little vehicles just putter aimlessly from one lesson to another. There are times in our lives when we simply have to say, enough is enough. If you are in that place, looking for a break from the hubbub and rush, then stop long enough to read this article by Valerie Felder. She will help you find the balance we all long for that enables us to begin again at a fresh new pace.

We love to build things. More importantly, we love to tear things up! My boys have closets and drawers full of old parts to this and that. Electronics, legos, tools, wire, and metal--you name it and we probably have something at our house that will fit into it. I was recently made aware of a group of young adults who also enjoy building things. They are the members of the Robotics team, Error 404.

As a young team, they have exceeded expectations and fought hard for the opportunity to participate in the World Competition in St. Louis. It’s an honor to support a group of such dedicated and hard-working students. All of the students are members of the Gulf Coast Christian Home Scholars (GCCHS). Congratulations to each of you, and good luck in St. Louis!

My children have been “volun-told” what to do their whole life. Service is my love language. Because I saw the valuable lessons and treasured teachable moments found through selfless service, I wanted to instill the love in my children as well.

My good friend, Emily Callaway, has served for two years as our volunteer coordinator at the THSC Conventions and also served with our Annual Gala and Fundraiser. However, our friendship began long before her work with THSC. It began in our community, serving together. We have become forever friends. Please read her story below and be inspired to find a place within your community to volunteer. You may find a forever friend in the process!

I remember when we were first getting started in our home school journey. I found a friend who shared with me her “plan.” I took her advice, adjusted a bit on my own, and set out on the journey of a lifetime. I was so thankful for the heartfelt advice from someone who wanted me to be successful.

It’s more than in the head . . . it’s also in the gut.[/caption]I remember sitting at the kitchen table with one of my boys and discussing his struggle to stay focused. “Seriously?” I asked in amazement. “You can’t read from the top to the bottom without thinking about something else?” His answer was an emphatic, “No way!” What we determined was a propensity to wander in thought because the material wasn’t interesting enough to engage him. Who knew that the economic system in Europe wasn’t engaging? After all, he could sit quietly and look at books about guns or animals all day long. To be honest, I can’t say that I blame him. I am reminded, however, of the many times I have wondered if my boys struggle with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). You hear parents talk about ADD all the time. Often, children are diagnosed unnecessarily or struggle with the disorder, but have not been properly diagnosed. As our family struggles with staying on task, I ask myself what else can be done to encourage peace.

Monday and Tuesday are two of my favorite days of the week. Usually, Monday is reserved for the sluggish way we get back into a work week or the day we “start school” again. At the Orr house, our Mondays and Tuesdays are reserved for shared teaching. Yes, you read correctly, shared teaching. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy teaching my children, very much, in fact. There are times, however, that we need a little something extra.

Shared teaching, or a home school cooperative, is best explained as a way for parents to team up for the purpose of teaching one or multiple subjects to a group of students. Our family has participated in several types of cooperatives, but my favorite are the ones we host in the comfort of our home.