Conference Reflection, 300th Post, and GIVEAWAY!

I started this blog at the start of my family's homeschooling journey when Primus began Kindergarten.  But it's about so much more than education.  This has also been my place to share craft and recipe ideas, talk about the Gospel, muse about beauty standards, and other randomness.  I hope you've found something to interest you!  I don't claim or aspire to be a good writer.  But I have enjoyed having a space to document my family's school life and share ideas that I hope can be of help to others.

Actually, my first step into the blogging world was in 2008.  At that time, all of a sudden a lot of my friends and siblings were signing up on Blogspot.  I jumped on that bandwagon right away and have actually outlasted most of them. And now I have two!

My original family blog is my journal, family scrapbook, and the kids' baby books all rolled into one and stored in a place where it can't get lost or damaged.  Isn't the internet wonderful?

Did you know that blogging can also be a way to do family history?

This weekend members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints watched General Conference. It's a time where we get to hear words of inspiration, council, and guidance from Heavenly Father through His servants the Prophet, Apostles, and other Church leaders.

One of the last talks of the last session was about family history and genealogy.  Mormons think that doing family history research is incredibly important for various reasons.  And in the past it was revealed to me personally that I needed to be engaged in this work.  But I haven't done much.  I kind of figured that's something I'll do in the Grandmother phase of my life.  But still, I sometimes feel guilty for putting off something so important.

During the aforementioned talk, Elder Packer mentioned that genealogy isn't just compiling names and dates.  "It also includes the present, as we create our own history."  He said that when a mother shares family stories and pictures, she is doing family history work.

When I heard that, I suddenly and unexpectedly felt the Holy Spirit strongly and tears came to my eyes.  It was revealed to me then that blogging is the way I'm doing family history work.  And it's important for my family.


I immediately ran to my bedroom, opened up my personal journal, and wrote it down before I could forget that feeling.  Then I read the words I wrote back to myself.  Again I was overcome with a warm, tingly, peaceful feeling that I know to be the Holy Ghost bearing witness of truth.

I am so thankful for the knowledge that my Heavenly Father knows me, loves me, and knows what I need to hear. I am grateful that the Heavens are not closed and that Heavenly Father has called prophets and apostles in our day to lead, guide, and inspire us!

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This is my 300th post here on the Homeschool Is Not a Typo blog!  300 posts in just over 3 years.  In celebration, I want to give one lucky reader a special prize.

Because I love getting kids interested in reading, and this is primarily an education blog, of course the prize is a book.  The Reading Race by Abby Klein- a Ready, Freddy! story.  

You have several chances to enter to win.  Six, to be precise.  This is my first time using Rafflecopter, aside from entering contests with it on other pages, so I'm excited!

The giveaway closes 2 weeks from now and is open only to residents of the United States.

Even if you don't have young children at home, you should still enter to win.  Surely you know someone who'd love to be surprised with it.  Books make great gifts!

Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway