New Editor

I don't know if most of you know, but I've been the editor of our Friday School Newsletter for about a year give or take. It's going fan-tabulous... I'm writing cover articles, doing layouts and embedding photos. And apparently, I've done too good of a job!

What do I mean by that? The St. Johns, who are the Founders of First Class Homeschool Co-op recently asked me to take on the Members Ezine for First Class Homeschool Ministries! Uhhh, WOW! Well, of course I said "YES." I love the ministry that they have and by taking some load off of them, they can do even more ministry. I really think that every homeschooling family should have access to a co-op for homeschool support and friendships for the moms. As well as the fact that it is a ministry of the gospel of Christ.

So over the next few months, i'll slowly be taking it over. The program that they use is one that I'm learning to work with. It makes my skagit county newsletter look like a piece of cake! But I am happy to serve... and I hear that i'm good at it.

I didn't know the specifics of writing, the specifics of anything. I have grown and been in the hot seat here for awhile. And right now i'm really feeling it! March is my first Ezine, and Heidi is definately helping me with it. I'm learning the ropes, which I didn't think would take this much time, but i'll get it!

The funny thing is, and Rod and I have had these incredible conversations about how the Lord is using us right now... and the way that we are really under spiritual attack... and I really feel that I am using my gifts in a way that is pleasing to the LORD (thanks Jesse). And if you would have asked me a year and a half ago if I knew how to be "the editor" of a newsletter with a 100 family circulation or the principal writer for it... I would have said, UH NO... needless to say that I wouldn't know how to be one to an ezine with over 1000 subscribers!!!! So, I guess you could say i'm kind of excited about this great opportunity to learn something new and to serve in a ministry that I whole heartedly believe in.

Homeschooling parents... Yes, I mean you, my friends... I taking article submissions for the ezine! Crazy, huh? I've printed Rod a few times. He has a real way with words! Who knew? Wouldn't have known if I wouldn't have been willing to stick my neck out and try something new! Keep me in your prayers! We are under spiritual attack.. and it's not easy, but we are survivors! Zindra

FC Masquerade Ball

Howdy Partners! Rod is missing Sean's Xbox 360 night tomorrow night because we are taking 7 girls and another mom down to a First Class Masquerade Ball in Vancouver, WA! As you all know, Rod & I loooveee to Ballroom dance. We get dressed up to go dancing when we go... but we've not had the chance to go all dolled up. We go to Portland a couple of times a year, so we are used to the drive... We've been advertising this event through friday school for weeks and last week it all came together. I was going to throw in the towel... and within a week, we went from taking taking no one to all of us riding in a 15 passenger van!

I went to Goodwill bought a dress (which I love) for $10. (My accessories cost more than my dress!) But I went almost all out! Bought some long black gloves, earrings, necklace, bracelet etc. Even bought a black boa. When else would I ever get to wear one??? And yes, I got a mask!

There will be pictures, so i'm sure you'll get to see all of us... The girls are all going to wear gowns etc. One girl is planning on wearing my poofy underskirt from my wedding gown!

We are leaving tomorrow morning, and I'm seriously hoping that we get down to the St. John's house with enough time for us all to get dressed!!

Mostly there is going to be ballroom and wiggle dancing (no slow dancing for the kids!). One of the concerned moms wanted to know what kind of music/dancing would be. All the music has been screened and i'm hoping we get to teach the kids a few ballroom dances.

The neat thing of this alllll... is that parents at our Friday School get the chance to see that other Christian Homeschooling Parents are putting on a ball for their kids, maybe we could do that for ours! At our Friday School there's a lot of boundaries put up by many of the moms over a the years. Through things like this, we are going to be able to break down some of those walls! Yay! And now there's talk that Zindra needs to plan something like this for our group for the parents. Many of them didn't ever get to go to the Prom & they would like to do something more along the lines of a Formal Dance. We'll see where it goes. Another mom has stepped up to help me out on that one!

Lovin' the changes we are seeing in our teen group!!!! Zindra