Preserving Local Homeschooling Opportunities Through Prayer and Participation

By Karen McCabe

I put my daughter in a speech class advertised through PLANT, Inc. which was being offered on the west side. She didn’t really want to be in this class…what kid really wants to get in front of their peers and give a speech? I knew it was important since my experience in high school was one of getting out of giving an oral report in any way I could.

Sheer terror!!
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It’s been said that public speaking is one of the top five fears we all have.
When I took over our co-op it was my number ONE fear. By the Grace of God I eventually got over it. There were times others had to come on stage and speak and I could feel and see the anxiousness as they made their way to the microphone. 
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Christian Heritage Speech Competition 2nd Place

So I was very excited to see this class advertised by PLANT, Inc. and jumped at it.
This speech class was very beneficial for my daughter so I looked at another class. Always Be Ready. Another speech class but more intense.

I had prayed about it and really wanted her in this class. I got a phone call that it was not going to happen, not enough kids interested. I was very disappointed!

Later, I received another phone call that they had three students who would take it and if I was interested the class could go forward. I of course said YES!

My daughter, again, wasn’t exactly thrilled to take the class but that didn’t matter to me. She didn’t get a vote.
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This class was extremely impactful on my daughter! You just never know how God plans to use a class, a teacher, or your peers to encourage you upward on your journey.

That’s exactly what this class did and to this day still has positive effects on my daughter. She has learned how to form her thoughts through a biblical world view and share them through all she has learned in that class. Sometimes I think to myself, as she is presenting her argument to me, why did I ever put her in this class. You feel me!?!?
But with all seriousness it was such a tremendous blessing!!

Nancy Lauser's "Always Be Ready" Class

I was saddened to see that many of the classes advertised through PLANT, Inc. on the west side were cancelled. Not enough interest. The co-op I have overseen for years now is closing our doors as the Lord has made it clear to me that my time is up as director. Conventions across the board are seeing attendance drop through the years.

​I really do wonder what will be left as far as these amazing opportunities go for future homeschoolers…so I pray!

I pray, that as HSLDA has stated in one of their articles, the importance of co-op, of classes like the ones advertised by PLANT, Inc., of the homeschool conventions across the nation, that we don’t let these opportunities disappear. We must work hard to not lose the ground that has been given to us by those who worked so hard to fight for our rights to homeschool our children as well as put them in classes like the ones advertised by PLANT, Inc..

I don’t know what the answer is but I know the Lord is in control. I will continue to pray that we answer the call God places on our lives to carry on these privileges that we have inherited and I ask you to pray as well. May we all be directed by the Lord as He says in Proverbs, we make our plans but HE DIRECTS OUR STEPS.

It’s easy to say I don’t have the money, or how is this going to work, or I am too busy to take this class but if we pray the Lord might have something to say about that!

If I didn’t pray I might have missed a wonderful opportunity for my daughter!!! I am so grateful for PLANT, Inc. and pray that classes will once again take place on the west side.

Thankfully, one of our co-op members is answering the vision for a new co-op at her church. Even though she has five children and is very busy homeschooling them she is stepping out in faith that the Lord will bring His vision together!

There is Hope…pray about everything, answer His call, don’t be afraid, He won’t let you down. 

Speaking of hope, I hope to see you at the CAPE convention next week, what a blessing and privilege it has been to attend all these years. I never leave without much needed encouragement and have had many answered prayers through all of the amazing speakers!

Karen McCabe

I am a homeschooling mama of two only children. What? There are fourteen years between my oldest son James, 27 and my youngest daughter Isabel, 13. Apparently God knew I could only handle one at a time. I didn’t homeschool my son, that’s another story for another time but I have loved homeschooling my daughter, even though I got into it reluctantly 😊