This past Sunday in our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship), we were going around the room with prayer requests. The one woman asked for prayer for the children and the new schoolyear that was quickly approaching. Then everyone seemed to chime in about how sad it all is. It's exciting at first and then they children get on the school bus and you watch them leave. I was sad for that moment too...sad for all of them. There's only one family in our ABF where the mother is unable to stay home with her child and thankfully they have managed to save enough to be able to send their child to the church's christian academy. Our family is no better than any of them, the difference is that we've responded to God's calling to homeschool. I truly wonder how many others are being called to homeschool their children and either don't hear it or simply aren't responding.  I find it so surprising that more Christian families don't homeschool. In a church of about 1,000 members, there are only 5 families, including ours who are currently or have homeschooled. Now, the demographics of that area and of the members who live there would lead you to believe that the mother's in the families are working outside the home to make ends meet, but that's simply not so in most of the cases. I am a children's worker and most of the children's mother's stay-at-home.

Two or three weeks ago, one of the mother's at church said she wanted to call me and "pick my brain" about homeschooling and to see what I would recommend for a good Bible curriculum, as they were using Sonlight for the rest. After the last schoolyear they felt God was calling them to homeschool. I was so happy for them! She said it took a little longer to get her husband on board because he's not involved in the school -- going to and from school and helping out, so he didn't see the things she did. Thankfully they prayed together and he now is very much for homeschooling. I'm also happy to have someone at church now who also homeschools and who's children are the same age as mine.

 Please don't think I am judging anyone who sends their children to public school or any school for that matter, I just feel that they are so unaware of the joy they and their children are missing out on if they have the opportunity to have their children home with them and don't take it. I'm sure God is expecting me to be an example and be willing to share the joy of homeschooling with others. Yes, homeschooling is hard and time consuming, but isn't that what all work is supposed to be? This is my job, but it's also my joy. And if we had responded to God based on our ability to do the job, our children would be in public school and we'd be missing each other terribly and trying to weed out even more sin from their lives. Praise Jesus for His calling, His ability to equip and for His perfect plan!

Jennifer :)