Dear Friends,

Have you picked your first day of school and started your planning? Since I have been homeschooling for more than 18 years, I know that my brain starts thinking about getting back to our school schedule in early August.

Do you have all of your books ordered and ready to use? Have you decided on any additional resources that you might need or supplemental classes?

If you wait until August to make some of these decisions or place orders, it could delay your school starting date. Spend some time this week looking through your materials and checking your list.

You may want to look for any summer activities you want to do, and you might want to think about anything special you want to do to start off your school year.

Are you involved in a homeschool support group or co-op? If not, I encourage you to look for a local group. It is helpful to have friendships and support of other homeschool friends. It has been an ecnouragement to me over the years to have my local homeschool support group meetings each month.

If you don’t have a local support group, I encourage you to start one. Invite some of your homeschool mom friends out for coffee and dessert. Talk about your concerns or offer support to one another. Over the years, I have talked to so many moms who feel alone in their homeschool journey. I want more for you. I want you to have friends you can go to when you have a question or need encouragement.

My daily emails and blog posts are intended to encourage you, but it doesn’t always give you the one-on-one encouragement that you can give one another.

The other benefit of a homeschool support group is that you can set up field trips with your homeschool friends, and you can get group discounts and have fun, too.

My local homeschool group meets once a month. We have speakers sometimes at the meetings. We talk and fellowship. We plan field trips. We plan seasonal parties. We do a homeschool yearbook together. Many of us bring our kids to the meeting, and they also have a lot of fun seeing one another.

From what I have gathered, there are not a lot of face-to-face homeschool support group meetings. There are lots of online groups. But there is something special about the bonds you make with these in person support groups.

Tell me if you have a local homeschool support group and what role in plays in your life.

Your Home Blessing for today is to dust and vacuum.

Your Zone Mission for today is to wipe the bathroom door facings, switch plates, and door knobs.

My menu plan for Tuesday is tacos. Veggies and salad for me.

Have a blessed day!