To whomever might read this blog, (this is long, sorry)
It seems like I am always jumping on here with thoughts and changes God is making in our lives and our family. And then I get busy and abandon this sweet little blog. I promise I am TRYING to be better. (I know I have said this before). But we will see if I can follow through. I still would like this to be a way to share with family and friends things that are going on in our lives, as well as a journal for myself through life's blessings and challenges. So cheer me on as I *attempt* to stay current! We shall see....
I must say that the last three years or so has been full of changing perspectives, growing closer to our Lord, and reevaluating the things we hold dear in our lives. Since that time we, as a family, and a couple, have taken a look at where we are, where we feel God is leading us, and if we are the example for our kids He asks us to be. I fall severely short in the example department but I hope each day I get a tiny bit closer to what I need to be. With all that said, when I got married 15 years ago to the one whom God chose for me, I truly never saw us where we are now. I never was one to value being at home with your children, as society said if you have an education and can work, then why aren't you out there. Day care is fine for your kids. Then after Russell and I started placing our hearts on things we need and not just want and taking a long look at if our worth was in money or in family and faith we began to make changes. I stayed home, quit teaching, took a job as a children's director in our church, and started working part time at my photography business to be more flexible for our family. Not only did my "job" change but we have made changes to our family as well. We have been through many changes...and now for another change and adventure... homeschooling our kids. Russell and I have been in prayer strongly for about a year on what God truly wanted from us in the lives of our children. We had discussed homeschooling here and there but never really put thought into how it could work and Russell had many doubts on how our kids would adjust or benefit. We prayed last year fervently through situations he faced at school, situations Jaedyn faced at school, through biblical history we were learning at our church, and through our hearts being led to being our children's primary teachers and examples.
We have tackled the issues of socialization in school, being the example for others, missing out on group activities in public school, being challenged academically, as well as just going against the grain and not doing "what everyone is supposed to do". And we have been reassured by our prayers and situations put in our path recently that we have made the right decision.
For those who are thinking what in the world have you gotten yourselves into, here are a few things that have been our deciding points...
1. Our kids don't have to be in public school to be a positive example to others. They won't be locked in a closet where they will have no human interaction at all each day/week. :) They will participate in activities in the community, sports leagues, and lessons of various kinds with other groups of kids.
2. We are wanting our kids to have an education based on His word and using His word. Not just a secular public education where they go to a building 6-7 hours a day and will not hear His word even once or be able to pray aloud at all. Yes there are many Christian teachers in the school system and we have had some. I am SO grateful to them all. But if we are to "meditate on His word day and night" that is not allowed. ALL of the homeschool curriculum we have picked for our children is based on the Bible. Most subjects use stories from the bible to teach concepts as well as in History and Science introduce a concept and then reference the Bible to reinforce that it is true and correct according to God. Bible learning is also a subject in itself.
3. We are not homeschooling based on the fact that my kids haven't had awesome teachers. We have had many great ones. And I am so thankful to God for placing them under their care. But as the Bible says, I am accountable to God for what my kids learn, not their public school teachers. One day I will answer for how I discipled them and taught them. It isn't about what kind of grades they get or how popular they are (AT ALL), it is about learning an education that is based on the one true book, the Bible. Much of our history and science that is taught today includes many things that are not in the Bible, as well as contradictory to it. If you are not IN the school system you have no idea what is being taught. I don't want any kind of education contradicting what my kids are learning through me and at church in the Bible. God won't care about their GPA or what their class rank was, He will care that they followed Him, learned His word, and lived their life according to the plan He set for them, not the world's.
4. Socializing in school... is this even an issue? Most of the socializing in school is not that positive anyway. My kids will be around others at church every time we go, with neighbors each day, as well as a group of Waco homeschoolers in an organization we will join. There are several home school families in our area and we plan to get together often and take many educational field trips with them. My kids are very social and I have no doubt they will thrive with the social experiences we will have. After all, we have been home all summer (3 months) without school interaction every day and they aren't complete hermits yet! :)
5. Academic concerns/challenges... I am excited about the fact that I will be able to see all the ways my kids will learn and be able to tailor their education to those needs. There are areas that I often don't notice that need extra work or areas where they are sitting and doing work over and over in an area that has been mastered long ago. I have tutors in areas in which I am not strong that are able to help out Jaedyn if the need arises. Jaedyn is already making lists of things that interest her and she wants to build into her homeschool program. She is such an education-junkie! :)
6. The fact that the government and others are allowing less and less in schools relating to Christianity is also very troubling. We seem to see lots of things on Facebook, email, and everywhere else that state that we all need prayer in schools, more Christian teachers, etc. but at the same time we are seeing more "tolerance" for many of the things that the Bible says are NOT right and we have allowed those things to permeate our society because people do not want to take a stand. We are living in a society of "don't want to rock the boat" or be the one to "stand out" or seem like a "fanatical Christian" but honestly why are we SO afraid of what others will think. That is why our nation is where it is! Just my 2 cents. But it is our job as parents to teach these things, not give it over to public school or even our church to do it. Even the church is a supplement to teaching your child at home about Jesus Christ and his Word. It is OUR job. And we feel God is telling us to step up and do what He commands. So we are off on this new journey.
We do realize how others might view this. Frankly we can't worry about it. We have MANY friends and family who are wonderful public school teachers, administrators, educational aides, and work in the school system. This is NOT about them. There is a pre-conceived notion about homeschoolers and homeschooling in general. We may be seen as religious fanatics, control freaks, Bible beaters, or right-wing crazy people... well, we are okay with that. We feel at peace with where God has led us and as long as He is pleased with us and our efforts with our children, we are happy.
I appreciate all who have showed support and for those who don't agree but are supportive anyway. I am sure it won't be easy. Our kids will have struggles, mistakes, and circumstances which cause them to learn and grow as all kids do. We are not perfect or even CLOSE, and we don't expect them to be because they are homeschooled. We are merely doing what we feel is best for them.
I am so grateful for all the help, prayers, and shoulders I have been able to lean on through this decision these last few months. Russell and I truly appreciate it!
Please pray for us and the kids as we get started in September and throughout this year. It will be a learning curve for us all! :)
Here is a useful article as well if you know others who homeschool or want to...
http://www.homeschoolchristian.com/allabout/editorials/starting/edobjections.php
God bless you. I am sure I will have much more to post on here this year with our new adventure and keeping up with life in general! :)
~Blessings to you,
Jennifer
