In this talk I share stories from my own homeschool upbringing and the indelible lessons I unknowingly learned through the experience. In a profound way they informed my own journey as a homeschool parent. I hope these lessons from the perspective of a homeschool graduate will encourage homeschoolers from all backgrounds and remind them that they are uniquely positioned and equipped by God to teach their children in ways that reach deeper than the pages of any textbook, lesson plan, routine, or test.

There are ten things I’d like to share with you that I learned along the way in almost two decades of homeschooling. Some may surprise you! You will focus on the most important things needed to get you through this journey.

Why do you homeschool? A customized education? A more flexible schedule? The ability to teach to your children’s unique gifts and talents? Are these blessings enough to withstand the hard times? What if your plan starts to unravel? What if these things don’t pan out? Having a why is important, but having the right why is crucial to staying the course. Come and join Aby as she discusses the heart of homeschool and the greatest ‘why’ of all. This session is for all homeschool parents; the new homeschool mom that is just now discovering her why as well as the mom that has been doing it so long she may have lost her ‘why’ along the way. You will be inspired, encouraged and have your passion for His calling lit on fire!

Is behaving like a gentleman an outdated and antiquated idea? Join Dr. Steve in a lively discussion of how to teach our young men to be masculine in a society that seeks to squeeze them into a feminine mold. Becoming a gentleman starts at home. Discover ways to cultivate a culture of masculinity without raising men who are brutes!

If we homeschool simply to achieve high academic marks, we are squandering the opportunity to influence our children for Christ. Character-healthy leaders are those children who have learned to elevate virtues above feelings. If we spend our homeschooling hours simply on academics and activities, we may win the praise of man, but we risk losing the hearts of our children. In our few short years with our children, we must focus on first things first and character is always the first thing! In this session, Megan, a homeschooling mother of eight, will challenge parents to use every opportunity to teach their children to serve God by loving others and to love others by faithfully serving God.

Karen has graduated three out of four of her children. They did not all follow the typical post high school path, but have been successful as adults- not necessarily worldly success, but as disciples of Christ. Come hear their unique story of running away from homeschooling in kindergarten, to raising adults that are living for Jesus!

Join veteran homeschooler and mother of eight, Megan Scheibner, as she discusses the importance of thoughtfully traveling the road of change and maturity with your children. Discover the significance of traditions in building security, the necessity of relational transitions for building trust, and the power of transparency to break down communication barriers. Homeschooling isn’t just about preparing our children for success. Successfully homeschooling is a ministry training ground for parents and students alike. Come be encouraged as you see how God can use your faithfulness in homeschooling to reach your world for Him.

Our social media doesn’t dictate how our homeschool should look. God does. Learn to take your eyes off internet ideals and onto what God says. Let His Word saturate your mind rather than getting caught up in the false expectations of social media. Find freedom for your family to walk this journey with God leading you!

Recognizing that a healthy marriage is the basis of a healthy home, this Marriage session is a fun and fruitful way to invest in your marriage relationship. Steve and Megan teach from their book The Eight Rules of Communication for Successful Marriages and finish the session with a fun-loving look at marriage and F-R-I-E-N-D-S-H-I-P Practical advice in a guilt-free environment makes the teaching real and applicable to all those in attendance.

When we surrender our homeschool to the One who called us, there is freedom and joy! Homeschooling led by God and not by our own agenda is the answer to the chaos and clutter that can steal our joy! Karen found this out the hard way early on in her journey, and wants nothing more than homeschooling families to find the joy that comes from God leading each step.

Want to transition your young adults from simple obedience to mature responsibility? In this session, Dr. Steve shares the important phases teens need to learn to take responsibility for their lives. Watch your kids move from childish irresponsibility to becoming young adults who embrace ownership and initiative as they move up the “Responsibility Tree."

Wait what? That’s right. This journey is about so much more than school. We are raising up our children to be capable human beings in a world that is often chaotic and confusing. Don’t get so caught up in school that you aren’t living life and training for life!

Although it’s easy to get caught up in our role as “MOM,” the greatest gift we can give our families is to show them how much we love fulfilling our primary role as “WIFE.” The Wise Wife session is jam-packed with practical ways to focus on becoming a wife who brings glory to God, delights the heart of her husband, and models a Christian marriage for her children. Being a godly wife is serious business, but you’ll get plenty of time to laugh as Megan shares some “What the Heck!” differences between men and women. Come be challenged and refreshed in your most important role!

Second-mile leaders are those counter-intuitive servants of God who earn the right to be heard by developing a consistent love of virtue, a disciplined approach to gratification, and a submissive love for the authority of God’s Word. Male leadership is essential to the success of marriages, families, the church, and society. This session will teach men how to Earn the Right To Be Heard, Prefer Proactivity, Reject Reactivity, Learn To Elevate Virtues Above Feelings, Build Moral Muscle, Seek Forgiveness, and Develop A Finisher’s Attitude. Powerful teaching that produces proactive fruit in our homes.

Ever feel like homeschooling is for those ‘blessed enough’ to afford it? Ever feel like you don’t have the financial resources to give your kids all the opportunities everyone else is giving their kids? Ever feel like if you just had a little more, your homeschool would be so much better? Come and learn tips and tricks to homeschool affordably and be reminded of the heart behind the Great Provider that has called us to this gig in the first place!

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

Being a Mom is about so much more than feeding, dressing, and driving our children to play dates! With only a few short years to impart critical spiritual truths to our children, every day becomes an eternal opportunity for teaching, training, and modeling Christlikeness. The Disciple-Making Mom session will give mothers the tools they need to disciple their children in the most critical areas of prayer, service, Bible study, scripture memorization, and genuine fellowship. Moms will walk away encouraged and strengthened, knowing that although discipling their children seems a huge task, God is on their side!

As Christians we face a spiritual battle every day of our lives. And homeschooling is no different. Expect battles. Be equipped for them. And know that as you fight them, you are becoming stronger in the Lord each day.

As a pilot for American Airlines, Steve was very close to the events of 9/11. Although initially scheduled to be the First Officer on Flight 11, the first flight to be hijacked on September 11, 2001, Steve was bumped from that flight the night before through an extraordinary set of circumstances. In this session, he tells his deeply moving story of God's providence on that terrible day in our history. Discover why God gave Steve a second chance, and how He now uses Steve to teach parents around the world to parent with purpose and urgency, as he introduces you to The Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent. Intensely practical and Bible based, the Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent is designed to give parents the tools they need and the necessary hope, to build a Christ-centered and character-driven home environment. We’ll never be better as homeschoolers than we are as parents! The Nine Practices are a great way to revitalize parents in their all-important task of parenting. This session will take highlights from the 10- week Parenting Matters small group study. Join Steve as he unwraps the Three Pillars of Parenting, The Motivation Model, The Growth Continuum, The Proactive vs. Reactive Parent, and more.