What's in a Name?

For my very first blog entry ever, I thought it appropriate to explain the name "Hip-Hop Co-Op.

Short Answer: It's what Chris typed in the box when helping me create my blog.

Long Answer: On Monday, Terry (the husband who now blogs, as well, see tmdugan.blogspot.com) forwarded me a Breakpoint article. Here's Chuck Colson's opening paragraph.

If you encountered someone who made his own granola, bought his veggies at a food co-op, wore Birkenstock sandals, and wanted to save the environment, if you're like me, you'd probably think, well, there goes a lefty, or a liberal, or maybe an aging hippie. But the author of a new book says someone like that is just as likely to be a conservative Republican. In his book, Crunchy Cons, journalist Rod Dreher writes about a group of people he calls "crunchy conservatives," a group that includes, among others, "hip homeschooling mamas," "Birkenstocked Burkeans," "gun-loving organic" farmers, and "right-wing nature lovers."

So, when trying to come up with a title for this blog, I suggested Hip Homeschooling Mamas. Chris picked up on the Hip part, combined it with the knowledge that I am the director of Minnehaha Christian Homeschool Co-op, and the rest is history.

All this has gotten me to thinking that I like the way God didn't make all Christians the same. What or more accurately who I am thinking about at the moment is "I Heart Natural Goat's Milk" lady. Who's she, you ask?

Last Saturday, we were at Bethel College for our meeting with the MACHE (MN homeschool group) graduating class of 2006. As we were waiting for Katie to practice her class song (Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing, which, she had NEVER heard, by the way, but it was sounding lovely), we looked around at the assorted parents of the 70 graduates to be.

One stuck out. Goat milk lady. She was symbolic of a new breed of homeschooling moms and I liked her right away. In the past homeschool moms tended to fall into a couple categories. Those being "Mom's in denim jumpers" and "Mom's in denim jeans". Now, like the Breakpoint article mentioned, homeschoolers are a diverse group.

Goat mom was covered in buttons. Not the kind that keep coats together, but the kind that make statements. And, the one that stood out was the one that said, "I Heart Natural Goat's Milk." She was bold and not afraid to be herself. And, she stood by her convictions because, as Terry noted, while the rest of us were snacking on Doritos (Chris would have inserted a trademark symbol here, but I haven't taken Trademarks 101 at Blog Academy yet) and sipping Mello Yellow (again, another trademark symbol would be appropriate here), goat milk lady was holding a mason jar and sipping on a slightly curdled beverage. We presumed it to be goat's milk.

All this to say, God bless everyone who isn't afraid to be themselves, show their personality, and teach their kids about Him!

I Peter 3: 8,9 Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.