Friday Session I- 6:30-7:30 p.m. 

Diapers, Playdough, and Microscopes: Homeschooling All Different Ages

– Melanie Young

 Sometimes homeschooling feels like one of those plate-spinning acts and you wonder how in the world you are going to meet everyone’s needs. The baby needs to be changed, the toddler is playing in the toilet, your high schooler is impatiently waiting for you to help with his biology experiment, and two other children say, “I can’t do anything else without you, Mom.” Melanie Young, mother of eight (ages 19 to infant), shares encouragement and ideas for how to keep all of those plates spinning at once without your life spinning out of control. Learn how to raise independent learners, how to keep the household moving, and how to make sure the little ones get enough attention.Your house is a disaster, your kids seem out of control, and you wonder how you'll ever make it through another day of school. Your "get up and go" has "gotten up and went". You used to think homeschooling was the best thing since sliced bread, but now you’re feeling like burnt toast. Take heart - you're not alone! No one homeschools because it's easy. You do it because you believe it's best. But there are times when you need to be reminded once again why it's best. Join me as we do just that. You'll laugh and be encouraged in the toughest job you'll ever...love.

A Road Map for New Homeschoolers– Dari Mullins

The journey of homeschooling can be overwhelming, especially for those just starting out. This unique workshop covers the basics such as philosophy, curriculum options, learning types and other needed information. It also reveals ways that each homeschool family can discover THEIR homeschool journey and navigate their own customized path through the homeschool world.

The World, The Flesh, and The Young’uns: Protecting Your Wife in the Homeschooling Life For Fathers– Hal Young

Studies show that nearly all of the active homeschooling task is done by the mother – which

makes sense, because most fathers spend the majority of their days earning the family’s

living. While the teaching may be delegated to Mom, Dad needs to be aware of her critical need for more than financial and moral support. She needs protection from things that may not have occurred to either one of them. Hal Young points out where some of the hidden land mines lie, and offers suggestions for how husbands can protect their wives. So many books - so little time! Biographies, historical fiction, exciting read-alouds: there is nothing quite like a great book to capture the flavor of a place or event. How to choose them and how to fit them into your day? Get great tips to both keep you on track and to glean as much as possible from your reading. Whether teaching chronologically, by unit study, with living books, or textbooks; this workshop will provide loads of practical and inspiring ideas!

Friday Session II- 7:45-8:45 p.m. 

Arrows for the Target: Preparing Our Children to Leave– J. Mark Fox

Are you preparing your children to leave you or to stay with you? Why are some families “sheltering” their children to extreme levels, hindering them from growing up and moving out? What about daughters who are done with their schooling? How do we help our sons discover their calling and prepare them to be leaders in their own homes? In this workshop, Mark will give practical and biblical teaching on how to equip and prepare these “arrows” God has loaned us to leave the family when it is time and hit the target God intended for them.  Mark and Cindy Fox have seven children, one daughter-in-law, and one grandchild on the way.

Be a Wife First– Dari Mullins    

Sometimes it seems impossible to juggle all of our responsibilities and still be a good wife. Often our husbands are overlooked or taken for granted, but one of the keys to a successful homeschool is a strong marriage. One of the keys to a strong marriage is a positive physical relationship between husband and wife. This topic is not often spoken of in homeschooling circles, however we are confronted with it on a daily basis in the media and advertising. We are bombarded by the world’s view of physical intimacy, but what does God say about this issue? Come learn how to be a wife first and enjoy your marital relationship.  **Note: This workshop will not be graphic, however it does deal with a very private marital issue therefore no men or children will be allowed in this session.

Homeschooling High School and Transcripts: Getting It Done and Getting It Down– Melanie Young

Thoughts of high school tend to make even veteran homeschoolers shake in their boots. Scary memories about confusion in algebra class and dissecting frogs make you wonder if you can really do this. Come learn how to plan it, how to do it and even how to tell the rest of the world with a top notch transcript. Melanie Young will help you figure out what they need to take, how to do the classes you are not so sure about (or are sure you can’t) and what records you need to keep. High school can be the most important formative years for your child. Don’t give up now! This workshop will leave you prepared for and excited about high school at home!

Saturday Session III– 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Seven Simple Steps to Sanity– Rachael Carman

Ever feel like you are about to loose your mind as a stay at home mom. There is so much to do and so little time. How do you balance it all? How do you know what to do and what not to do? In this presentation you will laugh at yourself as you see how insane our culture is and how peaceful walking with God can be.

Raising Real Men– Hal & Melanie Young

In a culture that is intent on bending the definitions of male and female, it is crucial that

Christian fathers and mothers make an intentional and counter-cultural move to raise real men to serve God, family, and country in the challenging years ahead. Hal and Melanie explain both the threat to our boys’ masculine identity and the Biblical way out — and the opportunity that gives us to train real leaders for the next generation.

Testing Time– Glenna Toney
Testing time can often cause concern and even panic in many a homeschool
parent. This session will answer many questions parents have about testing:
when to test, what test to choose, where to find test, what to do with the
results, and how to use the test results to benefit my child and my
homeschool. This is your chance to hear from a seasoned homeschool mom who
is a trained and experienced tester and educational consultant.

Saturday Morning Keynote- 11:00 a.m.

What I’ve Learned in Twenty Years –  J. Mark Fox

Mark and Cindy Fox have had the privilege to homeschool their seven children for twenty years now, with only 9 more years to go! There have been lots of lessons learned along the way and Mark will share what he believes are the most important ones, including lessons about homeschooling, life, and love. Come and hear the good, the bad, and the hilarious.

Saturday Session IV – 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Hard Times Homeschooling–  Hal & Melanie

Homeschooling is a challenge at any time. Sickness, job loss, learning disabilities, business

travel, and relocation are just a few of the extra stresses that can derail our best efforts to teach at home. Hal and Melanie Young have seen God’s grace in all of these situations and more. The good news is that God can enable you to teach and learn more through the hard times than you ever thought possible. Come for a frank and encouraging look at what God can do through difficulties, and why it’s so important to keep homeschooling in spite of the challenges.

Me?  Homeschool ? –  Rachael Carman

In this presentation Rachael discusses with great candor how she and her husband came to the decision to homeschool their children. This is great encouragement and inspiration for families trying to decide whether or not to homeschool and for hose in a difficult first or second year.

You Can Write! –  J. Mark Fox

Writing is an art that can be learned and used by anyone to make a difference in the culture. Mark has written a weekly religion column for The Daily Times-News in Burlington for five years in which he uses story, humor, and biblical truth to encourage the believers and challenge the unbelievers. His column has won three awards from the Amy Foundation for excellence in communicating biblical truth to a secular audience. He has also taught a homeschool teens writing class in Burlington for 13 years and is the author of You CAN Write! (2008). Come and learn some simple truths about good writing that will help you or your child wield the pen that really is mightier than the sword!

Saturday Session V – 3:30- 4:30 p.m.

Where is the Joy? – Rachael Carman

If God loves us, has called us to homeschool, and desires for us to have life abundantly, why are so many homeschool moms so miserable?  Rachael believes it is because we have lost our focus.  Come and hear how to put His joy and His strength back into your homeschool!

Homeschooling Athletics: The Total Package– Glenna Toney

With the variety of homeschool athletic opportunities that are available, knowing the right fit for your family can be difficult.  This session will cover the benefits of athletics, and an overview of athletic options which includes: physical education, recreation, competitive school teams, and travel clubs. This session also covers brief descriptions on: how to find and join a homeschool team, how to start your own team, and steps to starting a larger athletic association for your area.  This is your chance to pick the brain of someone experienced in all aspects of sports: playing, coaching, parenting, and administrating.

Homeschooling High School – Alicia Delp & Becky Barbee

The beginning of the high school years strikes fear in many home school parents.  Planning a successful four years to get your child ready for college/career is intimidating, to say the least.  This seminar is designed to give you the facts you need to help you enter the high school years with confidence.  We will discuss curriculums, transcripts, standardized testing (SAT, ACT, AP, SAT subject tests, CLEP), dual enrollment options, and college applications and interviews. 

Saturday Afternoon Keynote 5:00 p.m.

The Principal-Teacher Principle – Davis & Rachael Carman
Husband, father, principal. Wife, mother, teacher. How can a couple manage all the roles and responsibilities when homeschooling? In this talk, Davis and Rachael present some practical ways that a husband and wife can work together when they are also the Principal and Teacher of a home school. With prayer and principles, the marriage relationship can grow stronger and the vision of parenting can be more exciting than ever before.

Speaker Bios:

Becky Barbee

Rachael is a wife and mother and she is passionate about both. She and Davis have been married almost 22 years and they have been blessed with seven children ranging in age from 5 to 18. She has enjoyed speaking and encouraging women's groups for over 10 years. It is her heart's deepest desire to become all God has planned for her to be for His kingdom's glory. She loves challenging other women to dare to desire the same thing - to live in reckless obedient faith. Her journey into home schooling was a bumpy one, but she is so grateful for the God-adventure and the daily experience of His faithfulness and grace. Rachael is quick to admit her many imperfections and share stories that highlight her shortcomings and the redemptive hand of Jesus Christ. Her humor will put you at ease, her honesty will surprise you, and her heart will inspire you to go deeper, stand firm, and be strong!

In the course of all of the demands of family life, God has given Rachael some amazing opportunities. She wrote a book for Focus on the Family in 2005 titled SoundBites from Heaven. The book discusses fifty two different statements parents make to their kids which Rachael argues echo sentiments God would like to communicate to each of us, His children. She tells stories from her own life throughout the book weaving her wit and wisdom into each one. At the end of the short readings she included a few questions of personal introspection for the readers consideration and growth. Rachael believes that God wants to communicate His love and plan for each of us personally and that He does this in a variety of ways including our communication with our kids.

As a direct reflection of her heart's desire to affirm, encourage, challenge, inspire and celebrate motherhood, Rachael led the first Real Refreshment Retreat in 2003. It was her vision to give homeschool moms an opportunity to get away and revive themselves through Bible study and prayer as they faced the special challenges of homeschooling. The most unique aspect of these events was the three separate hours set aside for prayer. Worship, teaching, and fellowship were also included in the weekend. Many moms were blessed through the retreats. Now through the ApologiaLive conference for homeschool moms, it is her hope to expand on that ministry and create a weekend that will energize and invigorate the homeschool mom with inspirational worship and speakers.

Alicia Delp

Alicia has been home schooling for the past six years.  Alicia is a registered nurse and holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Tulsa.  She is married to Kendall who is an Accounts Manager at Volvo Construction Equipment, and they have two daughters, Caroline, 17 and Natalie, 14.   In addition to home schooling her girls, Alicia volunteers as a Guardian Ad Litem (an advocate for abused/neglected children) with the Buncombe County Court System.  The Delp family has spent the last year visiting many colleges with Caroline.  This past fall, Caroline applied to several schools and was accepted at her first-choice, Grove City College, where she will enter as an English major next fall.   Along the way, Alicia learned many things about home schooling high schoolers and hopes to be able to share that with others who are entering these daunting, but ultimately rewarding years.

J. Mark Fox

J. Mark Fox is the pastor of Antioch Community Church in Elon, NC and has taught communications classes at Elon University for 17 years. His weekly column for the Times-News has won 3 Amy Awards, a national honor given for "thought-provoking, skillful presentation of biblical truth, reinforced with scripture in a mainstream, non-religious publication." Mark has written five books, Who's Afraid of Public Speaking?, (1998) Family-Integrated Church (2006), Real Life Moments: A Dad's Devotional. (2008) You Can Write! (2008) and Planting a Family-Integrated Church (2008). He holds a B.A. and M.A. from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and an M.Div. from Luther Rice Seminary. Mark and Cindy celebrated 26 years of marriage in June of 2008, and have seven children: Micah, Caleb, Hannah, Luke, Jesse, Judah, , , and Susanna, ages 24 to 9. Micah married Kari in May of 2008, and is a wonderful addition to the Fox family. Mark's passion is preaching and writing, and he is developing a love for competing in triathlons.

Dari Mullins

Dari, co-author of Galloping the Globe and Cantering the Country, is the mother of three teenagers. She began researching homeschooling in 1995.  She and her husband, Allen, have taught their children at home since the oldest started kindergarten in 1997. They live in Asheville, NC where Dari teaches co-op classes and stays active with the local homeschool community. She serves on the board of the Western Carolina Athletic Association which provides junior and senior high homeschooled students with organized team sports.  Dari specializes in learning styles and provides extensive learning style assessments and curriculum consulting for homeschoolers. She is currently working for Bright Ideas Press, publishers of Mystery of History and other great titles, as the project manager for their new all-inclusive curriculum, Illuminations. She stays busy speaking for various homeschool support groups and conventions throughout the United States. 

Glenna Toney
Glenna is a native of Western North Carolina, graduating from T.C.Roberson High School where she lettered in three sports. Glenna earned a B.A. in Elementary Education from UNC-Charlotte. While at UNCC, Glenna played on the NCAA Division I Volleyball Team on an athletic scholarship. Glenna has coached volleyball at public & private schools, volleyball clubs, and Asheville Trailblazers. Glenna has officiated volleyball for several years. She has taught volley camps at many high schools and colleges including UNCC and Duke.

Glenna and her husband Greg have homeschooled five children since 1998 (graduating three). Glenna taught in Buncombe County Schools for eleven years and keeps her NC Teaching Certificate Current. Glenna has taught many classes for students and parents since
leaving the public school arena and is frequently asked to speak at homeschool meetings.

Glenna and her family enjoy athletics, camping, rock climbing, snow sports, and high adventure activities and vacations. Glenna¹s children have been active in athletics for many years. Including recreation and competitive school teams as well as played on club teams. Glenna and husband, Greg are the founding board members of the newly formed homeschool athletic association called Western Carolina Athletic Association / Asheville Trailblazers (WCAA, www.wncaa.org <http://www.wncaa.org> ). Glenna is currently the Assistant Athletic Director and Games Committee Chairman, as well as the director of volleyball for the WCAA Asheville Trailblazers. Glenna is currently serving on the NCHE State Athletic Committee. Glenna is the head coordinator of Riderschoice Homeschool Ski and Snowboard Club (www.riderschoice.blogspot.com). Glenna has administered the WJIII
Achievement Test for nine years and she has also administered the IOWA Test of Achievement for several years. Glenna is currently the owner and administrator of the Smoky Mountain Academic Resources and Training (SMART) www.smarttesting.net.

Hal and Melanie Young

Fresh from a state tax audit to prove that yes, they're all ours, Hal and Melanie Young are parents of eight children. They have homeschooled through seven high-risk pregnancies, three re-locations, two decades, and 181 degrees of longitude. They spent half of that time serving on the board of NCHE (North Carolinians for Home Education). Hal and Melanie have published articles with Homeschooling Today, Homeschool Digest, the N.C. Family Policy Council, the John Locke Foundation, and the Heartland Institute and are the authors of Raising Real Men: Surviving, Teaching and Appreciating Boys, a new release from Great Waters Press. The Youngs live in noisy familial bliss in Smithfield, North Carolina.

 Confirmed Book Fair Vendors:

Apologia                                                                      www.apologia.com 

Lunch is available in the Ridgecrest dining hall.  Please pre-purchase lunch tickets to guarantee availability.  A limited number of breakfast, lunch and dinner cafeteria tickets will be available for purchase at the Ridgecrest desk the day of the conference.  Prices are:  For adults and children over 11 - $10.50; for children ages 6 to 11 years old- $5.50; for children under 6 years old lunch is free.  Please see the pre-registration form on this site to pre-purchase lunch tickets.

Ridgecrest now has a pay-as-you go eater with a nice variety of salads and sandwiches that you may choose instead of the cafeteria. 

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