Encouragement Along the Way

Tuesday night, we had our last monthly meeting of the year for our homeschool support group. This time, instead of our usual meeting, we celebrated with a celebratory tea! Michelle and Kim and the rest of the moms who set all this up must have put a great deal of time and energy into it! And the yummy tea was provided by another homeschool mom/business owner, Mari.

homeschool moms' teaWe all brought our own tea cups. I wish I had gone around the room photographing the ladies with their teacups, because they all seemed to reflect the personality of the lady, or had a story to tell.

Kim shared a personal story that encouraged me; Michelle reminded us that one of God’s names is El Roi, the God Who Sees (Genesis 16:13) — so even if your family, your kids, or even your husband doesn’t seem to notice all the hard work you do, God sees it all!

homeschool_meeting
I am so thankful to these ladies for leading our group this year!

We had tea and scones, caught up with old friends, and made a few new ones. It really was a wonderful time of encouragement. We all took home a favor: a little wooden birdhouse, with a verse that says “Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.” Psalm 84:4
birdhousefavorWe were also told to stop by and see Michelle or Kim on the way out for a couple of “happies.” One was a lovely little cardstock paper with verses to provide “Encouragement Along the Way.” Another was an envelope with our name on it. I opened it to find a hand-written note from Ken, expressing his appreciation for all I do, and letting me know he does not take me for granted. What a wonderful gift! I was thinking, as I drove home, that probably not all of the ladies there received one of these envelopes. Some may be struggling with marriages in crisis. So as I drove, I prayed for them. And thanked the Lord once again for Ken!

On sort of the same note, I keep waking up with this song in my head, and it reminds me to be thankful for my wonderful husband! (Bonus: the video even has a cool old camera in it!)