Could God NOT want me to go to convention?

I have been homeschooling for 9 years now. My oldest is 13, and she has never been to public school.

We have an awesome homeschool convention here, but I have never been able to go. It is usually because of time, or lack of money, that I haven't been able to go.

This year things have changed a bit. The convention was actually going to be held on a Tuesday and Wednesday, instead of the typical Friday and Saturday. This was actually a good thing for me. It has always been hard for me to go on a weekend.

Not only that, but they are also offering free admission to first time attendees.

So, I thought this would actually be the perfect time, and that I would actually get to go.

Well, my mother-in-law, who was supposed to watch the kids for me, went out of town, and won't be back until the day after convention.

OK, so I thought I would just take them with me, but then I found out that I would have to pay for them to come, and my husband said no. See, if I were taking them with me, I wouldn't be able to attend any of the workshops. I would only be able to look at the curriculum.

That would be fine with me. That's what I wanted to do the most anyhow, but my husband didn't want me to have to pay for them to come with me just to look at curriculum for a few hours.

So, I asked my sister-in-law if she would watch the kids for a few hours so I could run up there and check out the curriculum.

Well, both of our families haven't been feeling well, so that won't work out.

My aunt and grandma said they would watch them, but my aunt is not feeling well either, so that won't work.

And the second day of the convention, my kids have a dentist appt.

It just seems that no matter how hard I try to get to the convention, I just can't get there.

You know, I just keep thinking about it, and I think I am not supposed to go.

I don't really need anything in particular, I guess, but I wanted to see what else was out there, ya know?

But I think that I am supposed to use what I already have, rather than purchase new stuff just for the sake of trying something new.

I have tons of online stuff that I never use.

I have 100's of lapbooks. I have a lifetime membership to Hands of a Child, and we have only done a handful of them. That is truly sad.

I have dozens of unit studies.

And the thing is, they are all great! I could probably homeschool for at least this whole next year, if not many, many years with all that I already have, online and physical products.

I think the problem is that it is not as easy to "grab" something off the computer, as it is a physical item.

I think I just like to see what else is out there, but that just contributes to my problem.

I end up with so much stuff, but I never use it all.

I really feel like the Lord is telling me that I have all I need for now. He has put me in a position that I don't need anything right now.

I may need some things like math, soon, but I really can't think of anything else I "need".

Being on the TOS Crew this year has really blessed me with a lot of the curriculum that I currently have, and I know that the Lord has placed me on the Crew for a reason.

I think that with the combination of being on the Crew, and using the products I already have, I will be set for the next year, or more.

I don't know what this next year holds for me, but I know that I am being prepared for something, and I think that being more frugal is part of it.

I have spent years collecting books for my kids so we wouldn't have to go to the library.

I have SO MUCH online educational stuff that it is overwhelming.

SO, I think I am on a journey to using what the Lord has already provided, and being open to the new things that he will provide through the Crew, and other areas.

I am going to stop wondering what else I may need, or want, and just use what I already have.

Do you struggle with this as well?

How do you use all of your online curriculum, such as lapbooks, or unit studies?

I would love to hear how you implement these things in your homeschool.

I look forward to your suggestions.