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Rebecca
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I would love to hear your favorite conference highlights and inspirations. I so wanted to come but was unable to do so. Will you make me feel like I was right there with you? 
Please share your thoughts here.
Thanks!
Love,
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lapazfarm
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Other than just finally being able to meet so may wonderful people...
Elizabeth's closing talk. Left me speechless.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Ruth
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Elizabeth's talk- This is what everyone looked like at the end. 
It was the most beautiful, inspirational talk I have heard in a very long time. It's worth listening to over and over again.
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Ruth
mom to 7 miracles
My family blog
Loreto Rosaries
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mavmama
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Kneeling during Mass, I just felt so at peace....everyone in that room was there for the same purpose; to raise our children to love the Lord and be together in Heaven. What an awesome gathering!
Thought you all would appreciate this: On the comment sheet they asked what frustrations we encountered. I wrote nothing, but wanted to write "Not enough cash to spend on all the great resources!"
Really, the whole day was wonderful. Dh was very glad he went, and understands "real learning" so much better now. He said to me, "After listening to those talks, I think there is more we can do, but you are doing great already." Gotta love hearing that!
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Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
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MEBarrett
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One of the vendors threw his arms around me and told me this was the best conference he had ever done. He gave me a beautiful rosary.
I was so touched.
It was a beautiful day wasn't it? So many grace-filled moments. Thanks to all of you who were there for being so wonderful.
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Blessings,
Mary Ellen
Mom to seven beautiful kids
Tales from the Bonny Blue House
O Night Divine
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Maryan
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Wow Rebecca, tough question...
- I only attended one talk... and it was Janette's Math presentation. So it was by far my favorite. It was great and so what I needed. And I was so grateful to have her there after all her family does for this forum. Unfortunately, the talk started a bit late because we were running a bit behind schedule, so then it wasn't as long as originally scheduled. So when we were past time... no one wanted her to stop. I know I had tons of questions for her. And even with time cut short, I walked away with tons of information and ideas for starting math with my guys including a list of living books per age group, games, suggested math curriculums, and on...
- Having the privilege to help coordinate with really fun moms was definitely up there. But then I also got to meet and chat with their kids that came to set-up... namely, Rachel May's, Elizabeth's, and Mary Chris' kids. That was a lot of fun. Christian, Patrick, and Carter suffered the most set-up abuse from my hands... very cheerfully, I might add. Pretty rare in that age group.
- The Mass, music, and reverence were all beautiful to witness.
- And to be perfectly shallow and reveal the foodie that I am... Mary Chris' food selections were awesome. Croissant and roll-up sandwiches, chips, grapes, bottled water, and then these brownie tart-type things that were just deadly... they all hit the spot to this pregnant mom.
 And others must have shared that view because there was a lot of groups enjoying the food and fellowship all around the conference site.
- And then betting Rachel May on the number of attendees. We were both close. I bet 141 and she bet 150. She was closer.
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Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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chicken lady
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hmmmmm well I adored meeting Kathleenmom, I think I found a kindred spirit. She is way to quiet here on the boards. Theresa was wonderful and warm. MIchele as lovely as I imagined, Fuzzy gracious to take me Starbucks ( I had a migraine and needed strong caffiene) Jenn Miller and Ruth so charming. Janette gentle and so inviting. Oh shoot I should not have started this, now I know I am going to forget people  Lets see Oh....Dawn did cracked me up, and Meredith is like a breathe of fresh air. Maryan you are a true servant, MAry Chris steadfast and amazing, and of course Elizabeth, silently putting others before herself and being an example of charity.
I wish I had time to meet others, I was ill and anxious over family issues, I hope next time to be more present.
Oh I nearly forgot X-Hail and Mark my dear dear Steubenville friends, how wonderful to catch up!
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guitarnan
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* Seeing Carole and hearing her voice..."I know you!" (I felt like Laura Ingalls Wilder must have when she went home to De Smet for Settlers' Days...old home week!.
* Spending the day with Carole and Nancy (Hylabrook1), listening to all the great talks, and hearing about Nancy's children's county fair endeavors.
* Hugging JennGM and her baby, all at once! (And seeing her darling son!)
* Crying as Elizabeth gave voice to my deepest thoughts about attachment parenting, teenage angst, separation and closeness...and knowing I was in a room with people who felt the same way. It's so special, being with people who truly understand.
* Seeing Amy and her daughters, going home, and having my dd help me connect them to another part of my life...and then discovering they don't live too far away!
* Hugging Mary Chris and seeing how much her daughter has grown and matured...what a delightful young lady...and finally meeting Mary Chris's dh...now she just has to meet mine!
**** Hearing, over and over again, "I've been praying for you!" "I checked the boards and I've prayed all day!" "We've been praying for your family!" I have been to a couple of other homeschool conferences, and been part of a non-Catholic homeschool group (Christian), and I can promise you that the wonderful 4Real moms, dads and kids you correspond with here are even more caring and friendly in person. I've never, ever felt more at home at a conference, and certainly never felt such sisterhood. I was greeted with, "I prayed about your car problems!" and felt totally confident that those prayers got me to and from. We have something truly special here. Jesus, Mary and the saints listen to your prayers and give their graces and intercession to all of you. It's truly 4Real.
*****Latin! The universal language of the Church connected us at morning Mass...how lovely!
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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msclavel
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Elizabeth's last talk finally made it clear to me that for now, I know the Lord is calling us to continue our learning lifestyle into the teenage years. I have been afraid to give voice to this out loud for a long time because I know that just as I met some resistance and naysayers at the start of our journey, some of those voices will be heard again.
The Mass was perfect.
And Nicholas Foss is the most adorable little boy I've ever seen...I think I'm in love. And my one regret is not brining one of my older daughters to meet the beautiful young ladies that were there. Mary Beth is delightful and lovely, and shame on me, I didn't catch the names of some of the other girls, I wish my girls could have met you. Amy's daughters are beautiful!
And ladies, can I just say what a truly handsome group of women we are. I kept looking at all your faces and thinking, Wow! She's gorgeous!
A had many IRL friends that I brought along. We're all local so it was pretty easy. It was such a treat to point out the ladies I "know" and tell them all the amazing things I've learned from all of you.
It warmed my heart and will keep my smiling for a long time to know I could embrace warmly my friends here. And "meeting" Elizabeth again, well that was just icing on the cake.
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Rachel May
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I also only made it into one talk--Theresa's about Nature Study. I'll say this, it was so good and I got so absorbed that she had to remind me to advance her slides.  
The people! Seeing for the first time people I've met online, talking with locals who didn't know the boards at all, talking with the ladies who traveled LONG distances (Oklahoma, Massachusetts, Germany, South Carolina, Texas to name a few places) to be there, making it real with the other planners, and...this is silly , finding out that Dawn's eyes are very blue.
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Rachel
Thomas and Anthony (10), Maria (8), Charles (6), Cecilia (5), James (3), and Joseph (1)
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hylabrook1
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Everyone! Everything!
It was pure joy to meet and visit with so many of you. I felt like I was with a group of wonderful sisters.
Elizabeth's final talk put it all together - life as a home educating family and all the places that takes us, all of them taking us closer to God.
The food was just perfect, too - just the right choices. I really enjoyed the tea time mid-afternoon!
Chicken Lady - I saw you and read your name tag toward the end of the day, but since I didn't see "chicken lady", I didn't make the connection until much later that evening. I feel sad that I didn't get to meet you!
Peace,
Nancy
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stefoodie
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Waah, this makes me sad. I wish we had gotten to meet all of you. And now dd is gonna too. She's been wanting to meet more 4real kids/teens.
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stef
mom to five
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lapazfarm
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stefoodie wrote:
| Waah, this makes me sad. I wish we had gotten to meet all of you. And now dd is gonna too. She's been wanting to meet more 4real kids/teens. |
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I know my kids really enjoyed meeting all the kids at the conference. They had a great time! JBug latched on to Marychris's girl from the start and was absolutely glued to her all weekend! And ds was thrilled to have so many kids to hang out with. He had feared it would be nothing but us old ladies and babies!LOL!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Meredith
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Everything about it was great!! I can only imagine the 2nd 4Real Conference I'm there
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Meredith
Mom of 4 Sweeties
Sweetness and Light
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bfarmmom
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It sounds like it was wonderful! I have loved looking at the pictures on everyones blogs. I am so glad there will be another one next year. I am hoping to be there!
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Peace,
Kirsten
ds13,dd12,dd10,ds7,dd6, dd 4, ds 2
Sonlight Garden
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Mrs.K
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I held out in hope that we would somehow make it there until about Wednesday night- serious wishful/delusional thinking ! We are closing on our old house this week and just couldn't get away. I still can't believe I really missed it. All summer Jonathan's been telling me 'You have to go meet the Bloggers!'
Is it time for the second one yet?
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Blessings,
Mrs.K
My rosariesBeads of Mercy
My blogPondered in My Heart
 Jesus,I trust in You!
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Elizabeth
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Mrs.K wrote:
Is it time for the second one yet? |
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We're looking at our options Kimberlee! First up, an IRL get together with the planners to curl up with evaluations and see what people liked and what people want. I promise though, as soon as we know, this is where we'll come to let you know!
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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margot helene
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Rebecca wrote:
I would love to hear your favorite conference highlights and inspirations.
Please share your thoughts here.
Thanks!
Love, |
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I got teary-eyed more than once looking at all the lovely ladies chatting with each other. I loved seeing all the nursing babies and the pregnant moms -- a bounty of life! I loved talking with the moms who have such a profound interest in their children, all seeking what is beautiful for the hearts in their care. I only heard snippets of each talk, but it was the atmosphere I soaked up!! Oh - they had to shove me out the door at the end; I didn't want to leave.
Thanks again to all you planners! And thank you to the ladies in attendance for your support of Hillside. It is a great blessing to me. I know there were many of you who came to the table and I didn't have time to speak at length or say, "hello oh you're so and so." At the end of the day, I had to say that I had only recognized a few of the names. But please know that I was inspired by you all and will take the memory of the day long into the school year!
Blessings
Margot
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Maryan
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Margot Helene wrote:
| ...they had to shove me out the door at the end; I didn't want to leave. |
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But it was a very LOVING shove by a very charming woman... who was so glad to see you and Hillside there!
__________________
Maryan
Mom to 6 boys & 1 girl: JP('01), B ('03), M('05), L('06), Ph ('08), M ('10), James born 5/1/12
A Lee in the Woudes
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JennGM
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I wasn't able to go to many talks, and physically I was having a bad day, but I had such a wonderful time.
My favorite parts are similiar to Nancy's -- so many of you came to me with congratulations, hugs, and greetings of "we've been praying for you and your baby" and how so many were truly happy at my pregnancy. It really, truly touched me.
Meeting all of you was another highlight -- I didn't get to talk to enough of you, and the people I did it was all too short!! To finally put faces to names, to see a complete real life picture, too wonderful. And everyone was even more lovely, more gracious, more loving than the written word. What a wonderful group.
Starting the day with Mass was so wonderful. To hear all the voices together singing the Latin and the hymns, and having Father Vander Woude as celebrant (a very dear friend, who also did our wedding Mass) was just perfect. The feast was St. Clare, the first cloistered Poor Clare nun. As I was praying along with all of you, hearing our voices united, I kept thinking we're illustrating a similiar type of "cloister" in a way. Here we are united in our vocations as wives, mothers, teacher. We're not usually under one roof, and most are separated by many miles, but for that one day here we all were praying and singing together as one voice, united both in body and spirit. And for those that couldn't attend, I KNOW they were there in spirit. It was the best way to open up the conference, and what a gift from God.
And thank you for the positive response to my speech. I know parts were dry, but everyone was so sweet and supportive. It wasn't hard to speak in front of such a friendly audience.
I was at a certain disadvantage, since I gave a speech. Everyone put a face to my name, but I didn't get to meet everyone. And it was neat to also see people in my own community, here in Virgina area, converge with the online group.
My dh was very impressed. The whole day was just a powerful witness of a POSITIVE aspect of the Internet.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: Conference Favorites
