Things I have learned while homeschooling

      Our 1st month of school has been going extremely well!  It has been a lot of work but worth every bit of it.  We are settling into a routine that seems to be working for everyone and so far I have not pulled out much hair.  Watching my girls learn new things has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life.  I am amazed at what they can do and how they grasp concepts and make them make sense. 

     While I know that my children are learning new things, I am amazed at what I am learning as well.  One thing I have learned while homeschooling is that starting our day off as a family with breakfast and DWD (devotions with dad) will make some of the best memories we will have as a family.  I love spending every morning together, without the rush and chaos of trying to get to "school" on time, we are able to spend our mornings somewhat relaxed before we head into our school day.  I absolutely love it!!

     Another thing I have learned while homeschooling is that hearing my children pray in the mornings is priceless.  Before we start on our first subject each morning the girls and I pray together.  I have listened to them pray out loud each morning and I am incredibly grateful for children that love to be in the presence of God.  Riley, who is 8, prays with such sincerity and I love to hear her use words that she doesn't really know what they mean and use words in the wrong context while praying.  It makes me smile and I stop praying sometimes just to listen to her and if it brings me so much joy I can only imagine what it does to the heart of God.  The sound of my girls praying brings me more pleasure than hearing the greatest musician play a beautiful piece of music, in fact it is music to my ears and I am quite sure music to the ears of God.

   Homeschooling has also taught me that my children are incredibly smart.  They were all making good grades in public school but unfortunately I have found out that there were some major gaps in learning the basics of some things.  One of the liberties and privileges of homeschooling is that we can move at their own pace.  So we have gone back and revisited some things and with just a little one on one teaching they have picked up on concepts that they were barely understanding in a matter of minutes.  I love watching the "light" come on and watching their self esteem boost when they "get" something. 

     I am so grateful that God has called me to the ministry of teaching my children.  I have stood in front of ladies and young people many times to speak to them and I have felt the anointing of the Holy Ghost come over me and I have been able to get beyond the nerves and fear of speaking to a group of people and minister effectively but when I get up in front of my children and start talking about zoology and how God created the birds on the fifth day and we begin to talk about all the unique things about birds that God created in them,  I feel just as much anointing and I know that this is more than just a decision to home school but it is a calling and it is the most important and rewarding ministry that I will ever have.  When it is a chaotic day and motivation and focus is very low, God brings me back to the fact that this is my calling this is my ministry and when all is said and done, if I never speak to a large group of ladies again or if I stumble and trip over my words while speaking to a group of young people but I am effective in teaching my children the things that please God and they learn to love the Word of God and they learn to love the presence of God, I have been successful in my ministry. 

Valerie

Homeschooling Adventure

Well next Monday begins this new adventure for our family and I am very excited about it!  I don't know exactly what to expect but I know God has called me to do this at this time for my girls and He has given me a passion and excitement for teaching my children the things that are important to our family as well as the things that are important to God. 
The process of making this decision was more emotional and tedious than I initially thought.  Listing all the pros and cons and rating them, discussing them, praying about them...it was painful!  But, after all the contemplating and discussion the one thing that I kept going back to was that I felt that God was calling me to this.  Now as one of the most unorganized and scatterbrained person I know, I began to break out into cold sweats when I started thinking about and reading about all that goes into homeschooling, it would be incredibly sad to have a massive anxiety attack before we even start school.  But, once again the peace of God would reassure me that this is what He is calling me to do and in spite of where I feel I am lacking, He is going to make up the difference. 
So as I sit here tonight in our newly decorated school room that awaits the beautiful Staten girls, I get slightly emotional thinking about the awesome opportunity that is before me.  The opportunity to pour into my daughters the values and principles that are pleasing to God.