ALL ABOUT US

"Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6

Our homeschooling journey began in the summer of 2004. We had our twin boys and I knew I did not want to send them to preschool. I wanted them home with me. They were so active and inquisitive that I was already studying early childhood education and parenting books to find out what I could do with them to keep their little bodies and minds active. Truthfully, I was also getting frustrated and bored. I needed something to keep us all going and break up the day. It was then that I stumbled upon the concept of homeschooling. The more I read, the more I liked it.

Originally my husband was completely against homeschooling, but I convinced him that since preschool wasn't mandatory we could explore having the children be educated at home for preschool and maybe Kindergarten. I also stressed that with his travel schedule and the fact we were living in 3 states throughout the year, it was best to be in charge of our own schedule before we had to conform to a rigid school schedule. He somewhat reluctantly agreed, and so our adventure began. My husband, hoping it was just a phase, and me hoping I could pull it off.

The more I read, the more convinced I became that this was the best choice for our family and could even be a superior form of education, if done correctly.

“Educating a child is a natural process. Home schooling is nothing more than an extension of parenting.” ~Sue Maakestad

A few books I remember reading during this time included:

So, you're thinking about homeschooling by Lisa Welchel

The complete Home Learning Resourcebook by Rebecca Rupp

The educated child by William J. Bennet

The Well trained Mind by Susanne Wise Bauer

Small Beginnings by Barbara Curtis

Today my homeschooling library contains over 800 books! I am constantly researching and reading about homeschooling. Sometimes I think I spend twice as much time researching and preparing than I do teaching! I am extremely passionate about my children's education and our time together. I enjoy the time we spend together and I truly feel our family is closer because of our homeschooling efforts.

I am so grateful that my children have a love of learning that I am able to nurture and watch grow. Teaching them has reignited my own love of learning, and so sometimes we truly do learn alongside each other. There have been so many times that we've turned to one another exclaiming, "I didn't know that!" with big smiles on our faces.

“My schooling not only failed to teach me what it professed to be teaching, but prevented me from being educated to an extent which infuriates me when I think of all I might have learned at home by myself.” ~George Bernard Shaw

I feel thankful and blessed that my husband is also now 100% behind homeschooling. He has seen the difference it has made in our family and our children. Our family has now grown to four children and we know that we will homeschool them through the elementary years. After that, we will take it one day at a time. Truthfully, thinking too far ahead gets me too overwhelmed, so I like to focus on smaller chunks of time. We will see what happens and what we feel led to do. Although I am proud to homeschool, I do not think it is for everyone and do not judge those who choose to enroll their children in a traditional school. I am all for parental choice and think that all parents should fight to retain their parental rights.

Thank-you for taking the time to read about us. We look forward to sharing our homeschooling adventures with our friends and family. For some, we know we are the only homeschooling family you know. We hope we cast a good light on homeschooling. Please remember, our family isn't perfect, our homeschool isn't perfect and our parenting isn't perfect---but we are learning and growing and striving to do better each day. We know God has a plan for our family and our homeschool; And most of all, we know that plan is indeed perfect.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

We hope you enjoy the journey as much as we are!