A Getaway With a Purpose

Later this week I will be attending the Teach Them Diligently (TTD) Convention in Nashville, TN.

There are many reasons I wanted to attend TTD, but last week God impressed upon me why I would be attending. The purpose of this getaway is a chance to reconnect with my oldest son.

I love a little ‘mom-time’ when I get it, but without purpose it doesn’t do much to really re-charge me.

[pinit]
When I met Leslie and David Nunnery(Teach Them Diligently founders) at the 2:1 Conference  and heard the mission for the convention, the hearts behind its creation, I knew this was an event worth attending. Their words:

…the decision to homeschool was not made because of superior education in our case but for the purpose of discipleship.

That was purpose I wholly relate to! We do hope to give our children and excellent education, but that is secondary to our desire and goal of discipling them to be godly men and women.

I was thankful to accept the invitation to be a TDD blogger, but I knew it probably meant I’d be cheering them on with support from the sidelines during the conventions this season but hopefully attending the upcoming Marketplace events that will be closer to home.

When I followed along on Twitter (#hsttd) during the Spartanburg weekend my heart was pricked by some of the quotes tweeted by the other TTD bloggers from some of the speakers. I retweeted and posted them on my Facebook page to share with others:

“The hardest thing about being a mom? The fact that everyday, I can raise you up to a holy and mighty God, and you can still choose to walk away.” @RachaelCarman (tweeted by @UpsideDownHS)

“Teach Them Diligently = whetting, sharpening, putting an edge on your children like with sword.” @clayclarkson (tweeted by @apelser)

“If you feel like you have to spoon feed your kid their education you’re creating teacher dependent kids. @jeannie_science (tweeted by @getalonghome)

Needless to say, I really wished I was there. But it wasn’t in our plans, it wasn’t exactly in our budget. It was very last minute.

But, God can make a way when it is His will.

Over the past few months the relationship between our oldest son and I has been increasingly strained. It’s a delicate line that I straddle, understanding that he is maturing and feeling his way into early manhood, and me as the mother knowing when to discipline and when give advice and encouragement.

He is a very smart boy and he challenges me daily. Sometimes I wonder if he sees ‘mom’ and forgets that I am also a child of God, his sister in Christ. Does her realize that I was his father’s wife before he was born, and that the bond between Vince and I comes first? I know he often takes for granted that I had a life prior to motherhood and that I have an identity and influence outside of our home.

This past week Vince and I finally came to the realization that the struggles we’re fighting are spiritual warfare. Satan wants to snatch our children. He is threatened by strong families. He wants to crumble the foundation we’re laying.

We’re saying loudly, “No! You cannot have these children! You cannot have this foothold in our home!”

And so my ‘want’ to attend TTD became a clear opportunity. I could travel with Evan, I could include him in something that is part of my world and a perspective of it that he doesn’t normally see. I could share a getaway with him and have FUN. Not nag about schoolwork. Not remind him to clean his room. Not give him a dirty look for leaving his cereal bowl on the table until dinner time.

Now there is much to do before we leave. I have mountains of laundry to get through so we can pack (and those we’re leaving home have clean clothes, too). I have to make a trip to the post office to ship out the used school books we’ve sold (which providentially all sold in less than 24 hours to provide our spending money for the vendor hall!), and I need to make my list of things to check out and purchase for our upcoming school year.

If you live near Nashville, you can still attend. Registration is available onsite.

 

If you live near Omaha your opportunity to attend is coming soon! Registration is open online until May 19th (after that you can register onsite).

 

I’m asking you all to pray with and for me that the weekend is used in a way that glorifies God and builds the way He sees fit.

 

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