Connect! Webster defines this word several ways, including to have or establish a rapport and to establish a communications connection.  I love to learn how groups connect with each other and with other groups nearby!

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!