All thatmom podcasts are archived and available for download at this site. Be sure to check in every Friday for a new program. Remember something you heard but can't remember which podcast is was on? Drop me a note and I will send you in the right direction. Are you curious about listening to a podcast? Just click on the icon next to the podcast date entry on my blog or on the appropriate icon next to the podcast you want to hear on the archive site. The podcast will play right from that spot and most of them are around 20 minutes in length, more or less.

Welcome to thatmom, an online ministry to homeschooling mothers. I am Karen Campbell and I have been married to my husband, Clay, for 33 years. We have 6 children whom we have homeschooled. To our delight, we now have 8 homeschooled grandchildren and numbers 9 and 10 will be arriving later this year (2008). We also have one precious grandbaby who waits for us in heaven. You might also recognize me as one of the founders of the annual retreat in central Illinois called Treasures of a Mother's Heart, A Day of Encouragement for Homeschooling Mothers. When I was a young mother with three preschoolers, we lived out in the country and our nearest neighbor was more than a stone's throw away. Since we only had one car and my husband drove it to work, I would often find myself longing to have tea and conversation with someone who was over 4 feet tall. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed those days. But I also longed to have a Titus 2 woman who would be my friend and help me keep a vision for being a wife and mother. One day, I was challenged to stop complaining and to purpose to become that older woman for someone else, thus my vision for thatmom was born back in the days of diapers, Winnie the Pooh, and Playdoh. I also know that often, those who catch a similar vision of encouragement, end up being a tremendous discouragement to young mothers because they approach exhortation with a list of rules and regulations, formulas that are man-made rather than God-inspired. I hold to the truth that God's word, the Bible, rather than the agendas of man, is our standard for life and practice. To that end, the goal of this nook and cranny of cyberspace is to reach out to those women who might be looking for a kind word, a cup of virtual tea, and an older friend who knows that some days, all you really need is chocolate! Over the coming months, we will be exploring all sorts of topics, from how to deal with in-laws who don't approve of homeschooling to adjusting to a son leaving for college for the first time, to preparing for a homeschooling mom's retirement years. May the Lord richly bless you as you stop by and enjoy some time with....thatmom!

Phillip E. Johnson

1. A relationship homeschooler embraces two great commandments: Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and loving your neighbor as yourself. She believes that upon these two commands hang all the law and the prophets. 2. A relationship homeschooler knows that these commands are fulfilled as the “one anothers” of Scripture are put into practice in their homes, churches, and communities. She values her husband and her children as precious brothers and sisters in Christ, understanding that those are the relationships that will be carried with her into eternity. 3. A relationship homeschooler seeks to be obedient to the Word of God, thus becoming a living example to her children. She believes that Jesus Christ alone is her Savior and desires to live in the truth of that fact, trusting only in His mercy and grace for her salvation. 4. A relationship homeschooler trusts that a sovereign God is working not only in her own life but in the lives of her children, calling each of them into a relationship with Jesus Christ and is giving each of them an individual calling in which to use their own gifts. To that end, a relationship homeschooler seeks to help her children identify and use those gifts for God’s glory alone. 5. A relationship homeschooler sees her own household as the beginning point in fulfilling the great commandments but certainly not the end in itself. She joyfully recognizes that loving her neighbor means loving all of those in need and seeks to imprint that vital truth in the lives of her children as they work together to apply all the relationship principles to the ends of the earth.

Adoration of the Home was painted by regional artist, Grant Wood. The original hangs in the Cedar Rapids Museum of Art. Mom's Prairie Song was written, performed, and recorded by Ben Campbell and Lon Eldridge. All articles on this site as well as the podcast material are subject to copyright ~ 2007. To contact thatmom, send all correspondence to shesthatmom@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!

Charlotte Mason

Podcast Cd's of the Patriarchy series, the So You Think You Want to Homeschool series, the Spiritual Abuse Series, the Book Review series with Corrie Marnett, and the Treasures of a Mother's Heart 2007 series are now available for $4.00 per set, postage included. If you are interested in purchasing these or to request Cd's of any of the podcasts, or if you are interested in having one CD with all 50 of the first year's podcasts for the same price, e-mail me at shesthatmom@gmail.com for more information.