Hello, Summer 2021.

So much has happened in since Summer 2020. We in ACHEV have worked incredibly hard, praying, reading all the expectations from our public health officials, shifting gears so often, my gears feel a little worn out. We did the best we could with what we understood. We helped a large number of families who were grappling with what to do for school, many who never considered home education in the past. We found good, safe ways to gather that were a lot of work, but so worth it.

Looking past *the hard* for a moment, I can see *the good* shining through. Some moms have shared they didn’t realize how much they needed to stop all the extracurricular activities so they could re-discover and refocus on family time. Others have shared frustration pushed them to find creative ways to do fun things even when it seemed fun things were pretty scarce. Others have shared they felt caught in the whirlwind of strained, tested relationships, confronted by differences good friends and family didn’t realize they had. Some friendships have not survived. It has been a time of confusion, clarity, sifting, bonding… yet here we are, Summer 2021.

What now? The ACHEV board has scoured the pertinent websites. We’ve contacted our old event venues. We are looking forward, and we are encouraged. We have a waiver in our membership agreement, effective for the 2021-2022 membership year. In a nutshell, it spells out the courtesy not to attend an in-person event under certain conditions (symptoms, etc.), the common sense understanding that all in-person gatherings carry inherent risk, and that participation is voluntary. We will continue to do the very best we can to understand what is expected of groups such as ours. We will operate to the fullness of our ability. Our mission is clear: support and encourage our members. We will continue to do this for the glory of God.

Does this mean we can have dances? (That is a question we get all the time!) The simple answer is if a venue is allowed to have such a gathering, then yes, we can host a dance. Members who are not comfortable are under no obligation to attend. There are a variety of ways to be supported and encouraged. As always, members continue to choose to participate as they wish in what they wish.

I would like to have us all think about Proverbs 19:21 as we head into being able to make more plans. Proverbs 19:21, ESV, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” In some ways, I feel like a calf that’s been stuck in a stall too long. With the gate open, I want to burst forth, running and bucking! I want to do everything, and I want to do it all right now! I could very easily fill every moment with all the good things I have missed doing. Yes, we will fill ACHEV’s calendar (yay!) but we want to make sure we do it prayerfully. We want the plans in our hearts to align with the Lord’s will. We pray that for ACHEV, and we pray that for you. So, with joy, we pray and plan. Summer 2021 and beyond, here we come!