Please Support CHEO!!!!

Hi All!

We need to help save CHEO.  A mom posted this and I am sharing, so please know this is not first hand info, but fully trust the person that it is correct.  I thought when CHEO said this would be the last convention in Akron that they would be moving elsewhere in the state, not the very last one ever…..

Last week, I shared a tidbit about a message I read in the CHEO email I had received.  Tonight, I was talking to a vendor who attended CHEO last year for their first time but unfortunately won't be able to return this June.  She educated me on something that in all my years of homeschooling, I never knew this was going on.  I'd like to share it with my fellow homeschoolers in case there are others who many not have known this either.

The situation with CHEO (and many other state represented conventions) is of great concern to those who have been organizing them for years and years.  CHEO puts on the convention as a non-profit organization so they can raise funds to help fight for our homeschooling freedoms in Ohio, to put together welcome packets, give support to new homeschoolers and veterans alike and many other things that many of us may have needed at sometime or another.  

What is happening is that there are 3 large homeschool convention organizations across the country that are "for profit" that are organizing these huge conventions and pushing our state organizations out of existance.  These large conventions are NOT PUTING ANY of their profit back into the states where they hold the conventions to help further the cause of homeschooling and the freedom to do so.  If organizations like CHEO do not get enough support from their own state, they will not be able provide the services they do to help us continue homeschooling freely.

This lady told me that it's not just happening in Ohio but in many states where these new "mega" conventions are popping up.  Don't misunderstand me, I have attended the Cincy convention for a few years now, along with CHEO too but this news bothers me.  I'd consider myself a veteran homeschooler after 10 years but I'm concerned as to who will fight for our freedoms in years to come, besides the fact that CHEO may not be able to afford to continue organizing conventions for us and offer support for the new generation of homeschoolers.  

Take this info for what you will, I merely wanted to educate those who cared to know.

Thank you and if you anyone has any ideas to help CHEO, please share!!!!!

Many blessings,

Kim

"Lo, children [are] an heritage of the LORD: [and] the fruit of the womb [is his] reward."  Psalm 127:3

What is Beautiful? What is a Lifehouse?

When you think of beautiful, what picture comes to mind?  Is it flowers, people, places?

We all have friends that we consider beautiful.  Not because of their hair, makeup, clothes.  It's not their external beauty.  So, what is it that they have?  They have eyes that see, a heart that cares and hands that share.  It is the ones who call you to see how you are doing, and not because they need something.  It is those who build others up, those who make you feel appreciated and those who live their lives for God's mission that are beautiful!

Our pastor recently posted on his blog:  http://cuyahogavalleychurch.blogspot.com/2014/05/should-christian-women-wear-bikinis.html

I was blessed to do something for someone that I never thought I would be able to demonstrate how much they truly mean to us.  Then a request came, can you make a quilt square for this very same person.  YES!!!!  I could not complete it fast enough.  She really has a heart for others and willingness to do God's work.  She is a blessing to our family and it was an honor to provide a small token of our appreciation.  Many quilt squares were completed and a table runner was made as a gift for her.  It was beautiful!!!

What is a Lifehouse?

We can’t love our neighbors if we don’t truly know them.  Do you know your neighbors?

Jesus’ desire is for us to invite people to new life in Him, including those within our own neighborhoods.

LifeHouses are a movement that has us following Jesus out of our church building and going with Him as missionaries right in the areas where we live.  On the way, we’re to be asking, “How can we create community here while bringing new life in Christ?  What are ways I can love and serve the neighbors God has placed right around me?”

God put you where you live on purpose.  Destroy the fences that we hide behind.  Be your neighbor's unexpected hero.  It is amazing to watch someone's face light up when you stop by with cookies (or whoopee pies)!!!

There are many who will help others, even go on mission in foreign countries.  But we need to remember that our neighborhood, community, family, relatives, friends and neighbors are also part of the mission field!  Have you ever asked someone for help and been told "no"?  Not even, let's see what the schedule looks like when the time comes?  Have you told someone no and then regretted it later?  We enjoy being a lifehouse to so many others, not just the neighbors in our area.

"Many hands make light work." John Heywood, 1546

"The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously;"  Psalm 37:21  When I think of this Bible verse, I think of all of the people who only wanted investment property, purchasing second homes and all those that suffered from the housing crash.  Why?

"Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does n wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."  Romans 13:8-10

Here are some ideas to get you started:

http://inspiredbyfamilymag.com/2013/01/25/15-neighbor-gifts-no-baking-or-crafting-ideas/

What have we done?  Baked cookies, mowed lawns, snowplowed drives, etc….helped friends move, helped friends around their house/yard.

Has anyone ever given you something from the heart?  Has anyone gone out of their way to help you without asking?  How did it make you feel?  It is an amazing feeling to help another!!!! 

I think we all know this information, but do we live it?  Sometimes it takes a little reminder to get us up and doing.  What will you do, how will you be a Lifehouse?  I would love to hear from you!!!

Much info shared came from or was inspired by Cuyahoga Valley Church Pastors Chad and Rick.  They are AWESOME and AWE inspiring!!!

Most Amazing Video - Plant Defenses!

Wow, I could not believe my eyes tonight!  This is truly one of THE most interesting videos I have seen in a very long time.  Amazing how God has created mechanisms or defenses for plants to ward off pests, attract beneficial bugs and change their structures!!

We watched this video about a month ago:

http://video.pbs.org/video/2338524490/

and tonight the part in the video where the parasitic plant wants to attach to the tomato plant - I saw!  Generally when things are filmed and special care taken, you think I will never see that in real life.  I did and showed hubby and the kids.  They were amazed!!!!  My husband's comment was "I thought that" was in slow motion.  Amazing to see it swinging around searching.  

Now that I have seen one, I will probably see them all over?

Enjoy the video :)

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”  John 8:12

Plant Giveaway!

Hi All!

It's that time of year and our perennials have multiplied!  God has blessed us with an abundance and we are sharing!!!!

Black eye Susan


Columbine - they come in many flower types and colors

Sundrops









Allium (related to chives and garlic)



Scabiosa


Lily of the Valley

We have plenty of the above flowers, along with maybe a few others.  Also, we have a couple of Red Japanese Maple saplings to the first few people interested.  Please email Kim at DecadentChocolate@gmail.com to schedule a time to stop by!  

"The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever."  Isaiah 40:8