Hello fellow home educators,

I just wanted a place to express my thoughts today. I have noticed more and more home educators changing their beliefs, thoughts, goals and maybe even their convictions.

Why do we start homeschooling? What are our reasons? As our children grow older should these reasons change? Do we homeschool out of conviction or out of convenience?

We began our homeschooling journey, I prefer home education, when my eldest of three was born. He is now going to do grade 12 in September. The same reasons, goals and convictions have not changed. Yes, our circumstances and situations have changed many times. Yes, it has been at times a great challenge, but the rewards with standing firm in what we believe God has called us to has been beyond measure. God has proven Himself faithful over and over again in providing the courage, strength and ability to do what He has called us to as a family.

I must admit that there are times when I feel very much alone. The homeschooling community in my area has changed dramatically. There was a time when the belief in home education was strong and full of conviction and faith. But the government of Canada in our province has provided a means for homeschoolers to receive a large sum of money per student if they (the parents) only follow the governments provincial learning outcomes. At first this seemed to be a blessing to those with financial struggles, but after years, it seems to me that it has become a trap. Folks who entered the program are now having difficulty leaving as they do not want to sacrifice the money. The provincial learning outcomes are so full and busy that it leaves very little room for life learning, character building and other educational pursuits that are more geared towards the individuals needs. I've also observed how much easier it is for parents to 'ship' their children off to public or private schools after spending a year or two trying to fulfill these outcomes. The parents as well as the children are burned out and frustrated with all that is required of them, so they give up and in doing so, I believe that they also give up their rights as parents to have a major say in their childrens lives. How can a parent have a major influence in their childs life when after all is said and done they might get 3 to 4 hours out of a 24 hour period to spend with their child. A child is most influenced by those he spends most of his time with.

I suppose it must seem as though I am ranting, and maybe I am. I just wish that there were others out there that home educated their children not out of convenience but out of conviction.

I have many more thoughts and yes, opinions, but we'll leave that for another day.

Blessings to those who took the time to listen and pray.

Norma

Does any one else have trouble moving around this blog. I find it so confusing trying to stay or be in one place or another. If I move then I have to re-log-in, when I didn't even log out. I'm not finding this site very easy to move around in or use. Is this normal or am I sort of blog challenged? Maybe I'm just missing something. This blog was recommended to me through "The Old Schoolhouse" Mag. Oh well, I'm sure that I'll figure it all out eventually.  I am looking forward to learning how any way....

Norma

My life has now taken on a new season. I like many other wonderful wives and mothers now have the challenge of being a wife, mother, home-educator, friend, and daycare support worker and, and, and,... I'm sure we could continue to fill the plate full of all that we do. I read an article recently in the "Old Schoolhouse" magazine that really encouraged me. I was reminded that God always provides us with the strength, grace and abilities to do what He has called us to do. But the article brought it a little further, in stating that if we are having trouble accomplishing what we are doing on a daily basis that maybe we should stop and consider that we are doing things that God has not called us to at all. Interesting thoughts. I was provoked.

It is an adjustment working. I pray for the children. They are older, my youngest is 11, so that does make it somewhat easier. I only work afternoons and my husband is home during that time frame most days so again that really helps. So I'm home in the mornings to help the kids with their work. But most of the times they are working very independantly now. I think the area that they miss me the most is in the constant relationship that a mother is blessed with when she doesn't have to work outside the home. I end up going to bed way later than what I need, just because I'm spending more time in the evenings taking and being with the children. I do love them dearly, and miss them horribly. But I also realize that this season is necessary and that the job that I have is God given. I believe this because of the series of events that happened just before I got the job. God is faithful and He does meet our needs.

I just really covet prayers right now for God's grace to fill my life and my families lives.

Thanks for your comments, my3sons. It's nice to know that we are not alone. What a blessing to be called to be a peculiar people and to be looked upon as 'odd' or 'strange'... even from other Christians and family members. It's hard to see it as a blessing sometimes, but standing firm and steadfast in the Lord has it's rewards, more than what the world or worldliness could offer.

We are familiar with Michigan, we have friends from there. Plus my husband is from Wisconsin and went to University in Michigan a long time ago.

We have also been married for 17 years, and it's still a glorious adventure.

Have a great evening and you have encouraged me.

Norma

Do you ever feel that you are all alone? There are times when I do, often. I have two young men (14 and 16) who really want to serve God. They think that the majority of young people in our church are full of foolishness and sin. Which I'm sure they are not far wrong. Why are most of our churches filled with compromised teens (or young adults as my boys prefer to be called)? What happened to the Christian World View that we are suppose to have? You hear them talk of living and loving God. But yet they dress immodestly (showing and/or tight - both boys and girls) and have the attitudes and mannerisms of the world. My boys are discouraged. Every where they look is compromise. They can't be the only ones. This is a big world. There must be other young adults out there, that are serious about their faith and show it in actions, attitudes and dress. My boys don't care for the contemorary music and are not into all of the popular sitcoms. They do have their passions and likes and dislikes. But they mostly just want to serve God in all they do and say.

My 14 year old is my nature nut. He loves what God has created and his favorite past times are going for walkes along the beach or in the woods to admire and watch God's handy work. Creation science is his major. He spends lots of time studying and reading the Bible.

My 16 year old loves science and math and enjoys middle ages and other history time frames. He likes to write, play and create rpg games, discuss current and historical events according to God's word and read.

Both of them are active in their adult Sunday School class and enjoy church and reading God's word.

They pray for godly friends of like mind. I pray for them too.

I know that there are other highschool homeschoolers in my area, but none that hold the same standard as us. I'm not saying they need to believe the way we do, but at least hold a Christian World View.

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The gap between Christians and the world should be getting bigger and bigger as time moves on. But it's not. The standard just moves along with the world's decline......  ok... I'm rambling again... I really need to learn to stay focused. I sure hope I don't sound judgemental as that's not my heart, just frustrated with the way the World is.... hmmm. I suppose that's a good thing.

Maranatha....

I don't proclaim to be a writer, I'm not even a natural journaller. Is that even a word? So with saying that, I guess this blog thing is just for me. A way to express my inner thoughts. I'm going to just tell my stories has I remember them, not with any particular order. I have learned so much, but the lessons are deep within my spirit. I'm hoping that in writing them out I will be able to put into words the awesome spiritual journey that the Lord Jesus has had me on and how it is still unfolding.

It all started with an idea back in April of 2005, "Let's sell our house". So we prep'ed our house and put it on the market. The next day we went away on a two month holiday. During this time we sold our house and upon our return from our vacation we had 10 days to move out. Needless to say we moved very quickly.

We put our world into storage with the thought of seeing it all again in 2 or 3 months. God had another plan.

We lived with my parents for a little over a month, then moved into a very cute, very old (pre WWII) cottage on the beach. It was lovely. Although it was old, it was cute and cozy. And as long as we were careful how we walked and took turns sitting on different sides of the table (it was a very crooked little house) we managed there quite well for 7 or so months.

During the next few months we bought a 1/3 of an acre and began to clear it. All of us had a hand in it. My boys (who are now 16 and 14) turned into diligent young men that winter. They learned how to operate a saw, an axe and to start and tend huge fires. It was a great time spent with their dad. Sarah (now 11) helped as much as she could stacking wood and other such small chores that she was able to do.

Once the lot was cleared, we began the long haul of building a house. My husband and his wonderfully willing family did almost all of it themselves. The children had the opportunity to work side by side with their father and learned just how intelligent and hard working their dad is. A brand new respect and honor for him blossomed.

My DH is a wonderful father and man. He is one of those rare characters that isn't afraid to try something new. His moto is.... if others can do it so can we. He read books, watched educational videos, researched, asked lots of questions from professionals and didn't just take one word for anything. Always double checked and verified information. The children watched and are continuing to watch him do this. Amazing, almost miraculous what this has done to deepen and encourage the relationship between all of us.

The kids enjoyed living on the beach, especially my middle son who is my very own nature nut. I suppose the only complaint was that it was only about 600 square feet (very small two bedroom cottage) and the three children in one small 7x9 room was at times a little to close for comfort. But I believe in making the best out of every situation so I just put up a couple of curtains around my daughter's bottom bunk and made a sort of train berth. She thought it was lots of fun.

Winter came and with it more experiences that are now cherised in the photo album and in our memories. My husband and children rowing the canoe around the yard as it had flooded almost to the top of the deck (3 feet of water in some places) is one just one of many. We felt very blessed that the water didn't come into the house.

Of course with spring came the ants. I've never seen so many ants inside a house before. I'm sure others have had worse situations but it was icky. Although I must admit there was a certain entertainment in pushing against the shower walls and hearing the squish and click of the giant ants being flattened against the wall.

May came quickly and we then moved back into my parents house........

Well, here I am 'blogging'. At least this is what I think I'm doing. I read that this would be a great way to express myself and write my thoughts down. Hey, writing my thoughts down might be a great way to eleviate (hey...where's the spell check) some of the pressure I've got up there at times. I mean.... my brain is only so big and I'm having trouble with my delete button these days. I'll have to get that fixed soon. I guess this is good enough for now. Not very exciting, and I'm sure that with this opening paragraph I won't have many readers, and with the way things are around here lately maybe that's a good thing.

Maybe next time I'll write about my life in a tent for 18 months.... Or my year of homeschooling where we didn't do ANY academics. Talk about stretching out of my comfort zone.

Norma