#AOCM2019 AmblesideOnline’s Camp Meeting 2019

[lainsone]

Success in Imperfection

Mine was pretty easy to post because I wrote it as an essay.  If you heard it, you'll find that reading it isn't the same because I didn't read it verbatim and some parts were completely skipped, but at least it was easy to post!  lol

Thanks, Kathy! I wasn't able to squeeze into that room, but I knew I needed to hear your talk!

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[MichelleDee]

How wonderful to be able to read some of these talks and re-live some of this! God’s presence was so evident at AOCM, I’m excited about all the ways we can share that.

Amen and amen. 

And, thank YOU Donna-Jean, for your enthusiasm, your words of encouragement, and the way your love of the LORD and your love of CM/AO came out in what you said, both in comments and in your talk.

My friends and I all agreed on one thing from the weekend: we CAN do this . . . "however imperfectly." It was such a relief to know that we don't have to be perfect, and pure, in all things CM. Because, if we were doing it "pure, it wouldn't be a Charlotte Mason education."

[Donna-Jean]

Michelle, you just made my day (and it’s only 7:30 a.m., ha ha, so you’ve set the bar high for the rest of it!) - because you got it.

If it was about perfection, *I* certainly wouldn’t be talking about a CM education I wouldn’t measure up to that. I’m so glad you were encouraged. God bless you and yours - and I’ll pray for a blessing on your day, too!


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[MichelleDee]

Michelle, you just made my day (and it’s only 7:30 a.m., ha ha, so you’ve set the bar high for the rest of it!) - because you got it.

If it was about perfection, *I* certainly wouldn’t be talking about a CM education I wouldn’t measure up to that. I’m so glad you were encouraged. God bless you and yours - and I’ll pray for a blessing on your day, too!

Donna-Jean, I truly was blown away by the way you and Lynn, and ALL of the AO ladies (advisory and auxiliary) have poured so much into AO. I really had NO CLUE the history and the years of ev.er.y.thing behind this labor of love.

I'm glad the bar has been set high for you today. May the LORD bless you and your family today as you continue on this new journey. Know that I am praying for you today as well. Thank you!

[Leahpolk]

Donna-Jean, I truly was blown away by the way you and Lynn, and ALL of the AO ladies (advisory and auxiliary) have poured so much into AO. I really had NO CLUE the history and the years of ev.er.y.thing behind this labor of love.

I'm glad the bar has been set high for you today. May the LORD bless you and your family today as you continue on this new journey. Know that I am praying for you today as well. Thank you!

I completely agree! the love was incredibly palpable. AO is way more than I had ever even imagined- its so much more than a curriculum. A labor of love for the mamas and their families who use it! Praying for you and your family too, Donna-Jean!

Leah Fox

[lmichelleb]

Success in Imperfection

Mine was pretty easy to post because I wrote it as an essay.  If you heard it, you'll find that reading it isn't the same because I didn't read it verbatim and some parts were completely skipped, but at least it was easy to post!  lol

Kathy, what an encouraging talk! Thank you for sharing here. I needed to read that last night!

[phoebebopeep]

Success in Imperfection

Mine was pretty easy to post because I wrote it as an essay.  If you heard it, you'll find that reading it isn't the same because I didn't read it verbatim and some parts were completely skipped, but at least it was easy to post!  lol

Kathy,
I didn't get to attend the conference this time, but I read your posts of your talk. Thank you for sharing that. I think this year (Year 3 for us) has been our hardest and the struggle has been in a large part due to my trying to reconcile my very imperfect implementation of AO and CM practices and my daughter's seeming lack of response to them to other families' experiences. It was encouraging to know that it is possibly normal to not be able to do everything at once and to have a kid who doesn't show outwardly a delight in what she is being exposed to.

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[MichelleDee]

A HUGE thank you to the AO Advisory, [b]Guest Speakers, Auxiliary, and Projeny Panel[/b]

 
It has taken me awhile to bring my thoughts together after the AOCamp2019 retreat. Upon my return home after the weekend, my mother asked me, “Was it a homeschool conference or a ladies retreat?” My emphatic reply: “It was a homeschool retreat, a ladies retreat, plus some. Lots of some.” It was truly one of the most encouraging weekends that I have had for a very long time. 
 
To the Advisory
I was completely amazed at the depth of the leadership: of the history and continued development of AO, of your prayer focus for ALL aspects of the weekend, and of giving your hearts to us as you shared your life experiences and current struggles. My prayer for you, is that you are now able to rest, to recoup (in the midst of any chaos), and turn your minds to the “projects” that you want to work on in order to continue to develop AO, and bring it all into the next generation. 
 
Thank you for encouraging us to “do the best with what you have,” and to “let the books do the work.” For pointing us to the God of the universe, the author of all things, and reminding us that struggle (the nautilus) is okay, and actually a good thing. For the reminders that scary stories are good for our children to struggle through, so they can be equipped for the realities of life as they grow. For the reminders of looking at things simply, focusing on the things that matter, and that “order comes out of authority . . . . moral authority implies moral obligations.” For the reminder to pray, to stay in the Word, to continue to teach the Word to our children, to give what we have and to empty our hands. But, to pray, always pray.
 
Thank you for being authentic and transparent with us, and not sugar-coating things to make your lives something that they are not. For giving of your hearts.
 
To the Guest Speakers
Thank you for the concept that being “In the Middle” is exactly where the LORD has us at any given time. To rest at His feet, to be faithful and obedient in the midst of the middle. For the encouragement to “stand in the present, come from the past, and give our children the future.”
 
To the Auxiliary
Thank you for your tireless gifts to us throughout the year, the help you guide us through on the Forum, and your leadership in so many areas. Thank you for the break-out sessions that will continue to encourage us throughout the years.
 
To the Projeny Panel
Thank you for sharing with us the most important things that you remember: “the back 40,” the relationships that were built because of the living books, the bugs and dirt and play time, the struggles of conversations in one’s head when something in real life became a challenge, the fact that “it” never felt like school, “it” was just life. And the concept of being educated for life, not for college. 

And, thank you to all of everything that happened behind the scenes that none of us knew about!

[Donna-Jean]

Michelle, this is beautiful - and soul-nourishing. I know when I do these things, ultimately I do it for an audience of One. But - to hear from you (& so many others) that it met your need and then some is a gift from the Lord, and an affirmation that we heard Him accurately, that He indeed led us, and that He is blessing this work of AO and AOCM. Thank you!


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[MichelleDee]

Michelle, this is beautiful - and soul-nourishing. I know when I do these things, ultimately I do it for an audience of One. But - to hear from you (& so many others) that it met your need and then some is a gift from the Lord, and an affirmation that we heard Him accurately, that He indeed led us, and that He is blessing this work of AO and AOCM. Thank you!

Amen and amen!

And you are WELCOME!