As my oldest son edges closer and closer to the end of his high school education, I find myself reflecting on our past homeschooling years more frequently.   The triumphs and failures of our home education journey are not unlike the pits and peaks of the remarkable Grand Canyon - which I see every day as the background on my computer screen.   For me, the canyon is a wonderful reminder of the road we undertook years ago and, Lord willing, will travel for many school years to come.

I see myself at the ridge of the Grand Canyon, looking over the vast, beautiful landscape.  The view is full of glory, hope, and promise for tomorrow.  But at the same time I can’t help but marvel at the visual record it provides of many yesterdays.
Time itself can be seen in its creases, its curves, and its layers.  At the top of this plateau I begin my journey of remembering.  As most homeschoolers do, I started out on the homeschool road full of anticipation, so excited about the road ahead, bounding with energy, and packed with supplies . . . .

My first step on my quest was to find the right trail.  There were so many to choose from.  Classical, traditional, delight directed.  I finally settle on what feels most comfortable and soon my strong start is winding me down a path deeper into the canyon.  The terrain is often bumpy, and dry, but routine and normalcy settle in making the chosen path at least seem safe.

I find myself at times at the bottom of one of the canyon’s deep crevasses.  Lacking light, my sight becomes very limited.  The shadows of the surrounding peaks prevent me from seeing things as they really are.  The high, rough walls make my available paths hardly noticeable.

I have been here many times before.  Sometimes frustration has led me here.  Sometimes it is weariness or confusion.  I have spent many days in these crevasses crying out to God – asking for His direction, His vision, and His strength to pull myself out of this pit.  I always manage – through prayer and guidance – to find my way through the canyon.

Coming to a clearing, I am suddenly able to see for miles, and the layers in the rock of the canyon are clearly visible.  This leg in my journey is extremely thrilling!  Whenever I am afforded a view like this I cannot help but stop to marvel at the numerous colorful layers and the tales that they tell.

I notice first the enormous grey layers which represent our every day run of the mill school days.  There are many of these thick layers.  They are reflective of us accomplishing the basic three Rs, chipping away at huge chunks of normal old school work.  There doesn’t seem to be much excitement or movement in these layers, but yet they convey a solid record of accomplishment.

The dark brown layers which catch my eye next are the thinnest.  These were the times that our homeschool was not at its best.  Educational roadblocks, spiritual challenges, attitude adjustments (mine and the kids!) - are all represented in these layers, and the entire depth of the canyon is peppered with them.  Those challenging layers brought us much frustration.  But, they also helped us grow and eventually became a firm foundation that allowed a more fertile layer to grow over top.

My favorite layers are those that are a deep rusty red.  They stand out more conspicuously than any of the other layers because of their beauty and unique color.  These are the layers that shout out our glory days.  They loudly attest to the most fruitful times in our homeschooling travels.  Times when we were on fire with excitement over what we were learning.  Celebrated shouts of “I get it!”, and “This is so much fun!” were ringing out.  Rich classes, projects, and field trips full of wonder and learning were a regular occurrence.  Snuggling on the couch with an enthralling book was commonplace.  Thrilling adventures together – tot to teen - were a reminder of the fact that homeschooling is a family endeavor. 

These layers are the ones that I linger at most, and as much as I want to only reflect on those most joyous times, ALL the layers were needed to create such a beautiful canyon. 

During my time of reflection, I come to realize that if it weren’t for those deep crevasses, the unique layers that were laid down slowly throughout the years would not be visible at all.  All of this beauty and wonder would be hidden under flat earth!  Those ordinary, everyday highs and lows of my homeschool journey have created an astonishingly beautiful landscape! 

As I wind my way back up to the top of the canyon, I am once again greeted by a gorgeous view stretching for miles.  Looking across the horizon, I feel renewed again, even exhilarated at the thought of the years yet to come.  I am sure I will again be in many crevasses, and see many ordinary days, but it is these rare glimpses at the entire landscape that make this journey a very worth while and fulfilling one.

Thanks for reflecting with me!  Dee