In our family, much of what we do for education is "intangible" to a certain degree, meaning we experience it, but it doesn't always translate to a concrete, paper-pencil product. Although I keep binders and workbooks for records, at times I've felt disappointed that so much of what we do for school and what we're learning together goes undocumented...and it's the undocumented stuff, the life experiences, the triumphs of the heart that mean the most to me.
I'm always seeking spiritual encouragement, primarily through God's Word, but I also appreciate practical affirmation for the homeschool journey/life journey we're on. My heart's desire is to offer back to God some of what He's generously bestowed upon me over the years and I'm prayerful that the words here can do just that. May what He's teaching me pour out for another and may the meditation of my heart be acceptable in His sight as I follow Him wholeheartedly.
"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
Psalm 19:14
As I've pondered deeply how we educate our children, more and more I'm convinced that God is moving us into a new season full of new lessons and new ways of going about learning in general. I'm listening to the inclinations of my heart, searching Scripture for God's best for our growing family, and asking His Spirit to convict and guide as we seek to please Him with how we live our lives and educate our children. This chronicle is part of that journey as it unfolds...
It's clear that God has been nudging me for a while to follow my instincts and focus our homeschooling more and more on what matters most...Him. This school year (2012-2013), I'm realizing that how we have "done school" historically is changing. As followers of Christ, we pray to morph over the years as we mature in Him. We hope that five or ten years from now, things will look different yet again as we grow. We are not interested in stagnance.
We certainly don't have all the answers and we really don't fit very well in the box,
but prayerfully this blog can serve as a memoir of sorts for my family and maybe even an encouragement to another homeschooling mom or dad who seeks the same goals we do...
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Matthew 22:37-39
So, here goes my tribute to our family homeschool journey. I've kept a private record of our homeschool experiences in the past, but with all the homeschool conversations I find myself engaged in, I'm thinking this blog might be a space to share more of the path God's taking us on through our choice to educate at home. Perhaps it might even dispel some of the mystery that homeschooling is intimidating and shed light on just how fun and rewarding extra time together with our children really is...even in and sometimes especially through the challenges.
I'm beyond thankful for life lessons that hurdle the boundaries of textbook learning through blessings that homeschool provides. And, I'm so grateful that the Lord has prompted our hearts to a reevaluation of our educational experience as our family grows and changes. I look forward to what He has planned for us with each new school year and eagerly accept His grooming process through the tough times as well, believing our trials produce a harvest. Mostly, I pray we can glorify God in our parenting and homeschooling and in everything that we do, from Him, to Him, and through Him.
"So, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
1 Corinthians 10:31