Merry Christmas!

I have always believed in the magic that is Christmas, but this year, I was overwhelmed by the giving, generous spirit of so many around us, friends and strangers alike,  it truely made this Christmas the best one we ever had!  Grant might disagree, he still remembers the Christmas about 7 or 8 years ago, when we had NO HEAT and the temperature in the house was 48 degrees and were all huddled under blankets in the living room, in our winter coats and gloves, trying to keep warm with the help of one very small space heater as the best Christmas ever, but this one definitely gets my vote!  Believe me, it could have been the worst one ever, literally we could have been on the street, hearing recited over and over again "there is no room at the inn" but through God's grace and the helping hands of so many, we have a cozy space to share and our beautiful family is together.

I also was able to breath a small sigh of relief as the "curse" of Christmas past chose not to rear its head...10 years ago we lost my Grandmother on Christmas day, 5 years ago we lost my Dad...the clock has struck midnight and we are all still here....not that I don't long for my heavenly home, but today I am so happy, so blessed by my present "home" here on earth!

I hope this Christmas has found you surrounded by those you love and that you have fond memories to look back on!

This past year has been one heck of a ride, one that I never thought I would be forced to take, but it has now become part of our history and legacy!  Looking forward to see what the future has in store!

Great Oaks Option for Homeschoolers!

Thought I would share this here in case any local families are interested!

Our daughter,  Emily, returned to school this year and many people have asked about our experience with Live Oaks (and the Great Oaks system) and how it works for homeschooling families.  Sarah Taylor, one of the counselors at Live Oaks, has set up an evening for families to explore the option of attending any of the Great Oaks Campuses for homeschoolers.  Feel free to bring your student with you and come prepared to ask questions.  She will also discuss the opportunity for your student to come and spend a day at school exploring the labs that they are interested in.

Please feel free to pass this information on to any homeschooling groups that you are part of or to any other homeschoolers.

When:  Thursday December 15, 2011 7 PM
Where:  Live Oaks 5956 Buckwheat Road Milford, OH 45150
website: http://www.greatoaks.com/index.cfm

From Sarah Taylor:
Would you like to find out more about the option of your son or daughter attending a Great Oaks Career Campus?  If so mark your calendars to attend a parent/student information session at the Live Oaks Campus in Milford on December 15th at 7:00 pm.

You’ll hear from a home schooled student who attends Live Oaks, get information about the career programs available and be able to get your questions answered.

Great Oaks might be a great choice for your son or daughter if they want to:

·         Get a head start on a career or college through certifications and college credit they can earn

·         Make new friends who have the same interests they do

·         Learn about real-world conditions from  career technical teachers who are experienced professionals in the various career fields

·         Explore a career field while they are finishing high school – a much less expensive option than taking a year of college then changing majors

We hope you can join us to explore career options for your son or daughter.