HEART, Rachael Carman and One Awesome Workshop

*We are vacation roadschooling this week. Please enjoy revisiting some favorite posts*

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Here's the background on how I was introduced to Rachael Carman and why I was so excited to meet her at the Real Refreshment Retreat and attend her HEART workshop at Teach Them Diligently.

Mr. T. I don't post a lot of stories here about him and his antics, but there are many and most are hysterical, at least later on. He is so smart and resourceful and such an awesome climber. He has such a strong will and a very determined mind of his own. And all this was very evident by the time he was 18 months old. I was struggling, he was struggling and so I took the advice of lots of boy moms and got a copy of The Strong-Willed Child . Great book, awesome advice, but it wasn't sitting right. Then my sweet friend Hope told me about HEART . She even offered me her copy to borrow, but I'm an underliner, highlighter and dog earer of pages so I got my own copy.

This book has been a game changer for me. It was almost a year later when we received a diagnosis of Apraxia for Mr. T as well as gluten sensitivity, hyper permeable intestines and sensory/coordination issues. I am so glad I listened to that tiny voice urging me to go a different direction. Thank You, Lord, for your Holy Spirit and gentle nudgings!  I would hate to think what our home would have looked like had I held firm to The Strong-Willed Child practices. That was not what I needed and it was definitely not what Mr. T needed.

Rachael is a homeschool mom to 7 blessings and blogs at His Sunflower. She also heads up Apologia alongside her husband Davis. I was very blessed and excited to get the opportunity to attend the Real Refreshment Retreat in Atlanta where I got to meet Rachael and hear from her and lots of other great speakers while worshiping with many other homeschool moms. It was amazing! Rachael has a wonderful capacity for encouraging moms to focus their heart on God and bring glory to Him through serving and raising their families. She also likes to share chocolate :) Her favorite are M&M's as a reminder to memorize and meditate on God's holy word!

HEART is an acronym for:
H - Have a Heart for the Things of God
E - Enrich Your Marriage
A - Accept Your Kids (this was a big one for me during our personality clashing)
R - Release Them to God
T - Teach Them the Truth

The HEART workshop was full of wonderful heartfelt extras that really brought home several points from the book, and Rachael is a lot of fun to listen to even when you feel convicted by some things. Some of my favorite notes in my TTD journal from her workshop are these:

* Be excited about God!
* Teach your children what you are learning during your study of the Word
* TRUST God
* Bless your future sons/daughters in-law with the marriage you have today.
* Live a marriage worth defending
* You child has been sent on time, on purpose, to be a blessing.
* Tell your children "God needs you to be exactly how you are so He can use you for what He has planned."
*  Pray now for the strength to release your children to go and do what God has called them to do.
* Intentionally choose mentors for your children
* Teach them that God is the priority, not "God plus _____"

If you haven't already read it, I recommend reading HEART . I think it's a wonderful encouragement for moms in every stage of life! What is a book that was a game changer for you? I'm always looking for new and encouraging things to read!

Remembering Mary

And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.  Luke 1:38

I cannot help but wonder how Mary felt. Being a first time mother is so very scary. But to be the mother of Jesus, I imagine that is even scarier, yet more peaceful at the same time.

When you are expecting, you can literally feel God knitting that small person inside your womb. And you pray so hard. "Father, let them love You with all their heart, mind, and soul. Let them be healthy and happy. Let them be loving, smart, gracious, good listeners, kind, full of Your fruit and love . . . " You want it all for that child. But what is "all"?

I believe Jesus Christ, that tiny baby that grew into a man into our Savior is that "all". I believe that our most fervent prayer should be "Father, let this child belong to You. Follow You. Love You. Believe in Your son. And let them act accordingly." I believe that as mothers we should all be so humble in service to our Lord that when He gives us these precious little blessings, no matter what, we should all be like Mary in our acceptance and gratefulness for having been blessed. During this Christmas season, I always remember this song, and as a mother it means so much more to me now. I hope it will bless you and yours.