For the past year or more I have really felt God tugging on my heart to Homeschool. I started praying about in during all the madness of 2020 and in small and big ways God made the Homeschool Path clear for our Family. Honestly though, I never had homeschool in my Future plans. I had already started dreaming about what my life would look like when my youngest entered school full time. I had 4 years left. I dreamed of starting another business or two, writing/Blogging full time and pursuing Ministry. God has placed a desire in my heart and shown me different things and homeschool did NOT seem to make any logical sense.
I find it funny how God uses ALL things for our good. We can make plans all day long but when we live surrendered to His will and His way – adventure awaits and it’s usually no where near what we had envisioned for ourselves (Isaiah 55:8,9) Through those moments of life veering left when we were certain we were headed right; God draws us closer to himself, provides beyond our expectations, refines and grows us to be more like himself.
Psalm 23 says “The Lord is my Shepard; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my Strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for your close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me…..Surely you goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.” That verse has been my resting place the past several months. He provides. Gives rest. He leads. He gives Peace. He renews. He guides. He is close. He protects. He comforts. He pursues.
Before we pulled our kids from Public School we first toured another small private School. It seemed amazing but my heart was still being pulled towards homeschool. With a bit of doubt in my heart and a mind full of uncertainty we pulled our kids officially mid October.
We have seen massive improvements in both of our boys. They are thriving at home and a lot of my fears have been put to rest. They are growing in their Faith and really blowing me away with their massive leaps of improvement. That’s not to say that we don’t have hard days or moments of frustration but those moments are minimal to the grand scheme of things.
Two of the most Challenging things for us has been keeping Grayson (2) busy and quiet while his brothers are learning and also navigating time for myself which is pretty much none existent. As someone who thrives in solitude- I constantly remind myself that life is full of Seasons. This season has been personally hard to adjust to but its just that – a Season. It will change and am comforted in knowing that it was God who called me to this and He has a purpose and a plan in it all.
When we decided that Homeschool would be best for our family we wanted to be sure our Curriculum was Christ centered. We choose The Good and The Beautiful after months of research and couldn’t be happier with our decision. We spent about $800 to get our curriculum and supplies we needed to be successful (pencils, art supplies, baskets, folders, office supplies etc.) I love that The Good and The Beautiful is open and teach/learn. There is minimal prep work and it is really easy to teach multiple grades because some things are taught Family style.
Our Day looks like this:
- Wake up/make beds/get dressed/brush teeth
- Breakfast/clean up
- Devotions/Bible study/Reciting the Lords Prayer/Prayer
- Math for 1 boy with me teaching while the other boy does the below then we switch
- Bible verse copy work and Handwriting (Baylen 3rd grade is learning cursive, Sawyer 1st is Printing)
- Language arts with me Teaching while the other boy does the following then we switch
- Reading, spelling word practice, Poem reading and then reads/plays with Grayson
- Science (2* a week) History (1*)
- Art/STEM or PE
- Chores
- Free time
- Dinner
- Free Time/Screen Time
- Book + Bed
Going into this new adventure I decided I was not going to go overboard with lots of extras. I wanted to be sure we were successful in the required things before I went wild with out of the home practices and classes. I think by choosing to do that it, although slightly isolating, it really has helped us all adjust and really get into the rhythm of our new normal.
I have enjoyed the freedom and closeness Homeschool has allowed and the endless possibilities it has provided us. One of our goals with Homeschool is not only to teach the boys what they need to know academically but also life lessons maybe I wouldn’t have found the time to teach them otherwise. Gardening from seed to harvest, sewing, cooking, canning, woodworking, how to fix things that go wrong with homes, nature studies, hunting, how to navigate the woods if your lost, how to was nature for weather patterns, how to be self sufficient if you need to be. We do not live on a Homestead but I think having the skills to survive and not be dependent on anything should be passed along the generational line. Most importantly though I want to set my little souls on Fire for Jesus. For them to grow into Men who are more concerned about living a righteous life that is pleasing to their Father than live to please and be apart of the fallen World.
Where God leads I will never hesitate to follow. He knows so much better than I do and He is faithful to do what he says he will do. The road to the destination is winding, uncertain and at times upside-down but its all apart of his Good and Holy plan.
Ali
We have homeschooled 7 of 8 children and above all we have learned that Our Lord is Good!! We have three generations of children 4 boys and 4 girls – some adopted with special needs -ages 9-36, and our family remains motivated by grace. Without this privilege to teach and raise up our own blessings, God would have remained faithful, of course, but my plan would never have been as fulfilling, challenging or rewarding as His! My grown children thank me now for giving this gift of time and commitment to each of them!
Thank you for sharing your story! It so good to hear how God has blessed you through your homeschool journey and how thankful your children are – what a blessing. I hope my children do the same!