Beyond The Red Door

Welcome to our family's blogging home - where I share life beyond our red door! I hope that you will enjoy your visit with us.

Today's Verse

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Things That Make Me Smile

Seeing the kids reading their Bibles on their own
Hearing the ocean
Smelling a cake baking
Remembering our wedding day
Singing in the church choir
Shopping for my family
Feeling good
Reading in the tub
A quiet house
Watching a funny movie with the kids
Seeing my kids playing a game together
Ron's little finger dance
Hearing my kids being excited about church
Watching Ron play with Faith (our dog)
Hearing Ron snoring beside me after he has been gone on a long trip
Chatting with special friends
Feeling hot sand under my feet on a beach somewhere
Game night with Brian & Kim and kids
Spending one on one time with Kim
Double Dating With Brian and Kim
A clean house
Sitting on my front porch in my new rockers
Walking on a cool evening with my family
Losing weight
Seeing my kids make a great play on the soccer field

About The Hunters

My dear sweet hubby, Ron, and I have been married for 20+ years. We began dating during my freshman year at Free Will Baptist Bible College in Nashville. He is my college sweetheart. We have ministered together in various ministries during our lives together. We pastored for 10 years in Florida. We moved to TN in 2000 to Co-Pastor with some friends of ours. The Lord has given me a fabulous provider whom I love more than any words I write could ever express. He is now the CEO at our denomination's publishing company, Randall House Publications. I am honored to support him.

Our oldest child is named Michael. He is now officially a teenager, although I don't think I'm old enough to have a teenager. He is a very sweet and considerate young man. He is my thinker and my reader. He absorbs every piece of new information that he comes across. He loves playing soccer, riding his bike, skateboarding, reading, watching the History Channel, the Military Channel, ESPN and any documentary on TV. I am privileged to be his Mother.

Lauren is our youngest child. She is just 15 months behind her brother in age. She is wise beyond her years. She has a sharp-witted tongue (which sometimes has to be tamed), a quick sense of humor and a heart for people and animals. She loves organizing anything and everything. She loves being with her friends, singing, talking on her cell phone and playing soccer. I am blessed to be her Mother.

Just the knowledge that a good book is awaiting one at the end of a long day makes that day happier. - Kathleen Norris

On My Nightstand

When I Lay My Isaac Down by Carol Kent
Esther: It's Tough Being A Woman by Beth Moore
NIV Life Application Study Bible

Back On The Bookshelf 2009

~Beyond The Red Door~

Mar. 4, 2007
BFS Assignment #20 - The Beginning of This Homeschool Journey

Posted in Blogger Friend School

Our BFS assignment this week is to share why we began homeschooling. This is a story that I love to tell because I think it is very typical of our public school system in more ways then one.

Let me preface the actual beginning by saying that I remember being out Trick or Treating with some friends at our church in Tallahassee in 1994. I was pregnant with Lauren and pushing Michael in the stroller. I don't remember exactly how the conversation started but I do remember saying "I believe it is my responsibility as a parent to teach our children that's why I intend to homeschool them". From that night until Fall 2001 homeschooling didn't pass through my mind again. But I believe that the Lord planted that seed in my mind way back then so that when it was necessary it wouldn't be such a foreign idea to me. Know what I mean?

We moved away from Tallahassee when the kids were 3 and 4. It had become necessary for me to work for the last 8 months that we lived there. The kids were attending The Gingerbread House preschool. The lady who ran the school was a Christian. Therefore, the curriculum that they used was Christian - Abeka to be exact. So, when we moved from there to pastor in Auburndale Florida I took their books with me and continued teaching them at home. I didn't consider it homeschooling. I considered it "getting them ready to go to school". However, once again I believe the Lord was preparing me for this journey. Eight months later when it was time to enroll Michael in Kindergarten we applied to a wonderful Christian school in the town next to us, Lakeland. Until one week before school started I thought we had it all figured out. But I talked with some people at church about school and they said that the elementary school in town was the best in the county. And our county was the largest in the state. So, Ron and I discussed it and decided that it would be ok to send them to the public school - besides it would save us a boatload of money every month. So, we called Lakeland Christian Academy and told them we wouldn't be there. The next week we took Michael to start school at the public school. I told the teacher that she would get tired of seeing me because I intended to be one of those active parents. i told her that I wanted to keep my eye on what was going on. I was true to my word - I volunteered every chance I got.

Speed ahead 3 years to East Cheatham Elementary School in Cheatham County TN. I was volunteering every Friday in Michael's class. I assisted the teacher with anything she needed me to do. During that time I saw a lot of things that I didn't like. I was just there in the mornings. In 3 months of school I never saw her teach a single thing. They either watched a video or had show and tell. What I saw one Friday during show and tell was the straw that broke the camels back. The kids were allowed to do or say anything they wanted. One little girl sang what I thought was an inappropriate country song that talked about sleeping around. Now, I was extremely bothered by that but was even more bothered when I looked back at my son and saw that he was mouthing the words along with her. Then I saw him get up and proceed to dance to the music. That was it!!! I went right home and told Ron what I had seen and had been seeing (or hadn't been seeing). By Monday morning we had decided that the kids would not go back to school after Christmas break (this was the beginning of December). Thus began our homeschooling journey.

There has been many difficult days since then. But God has walked the journey with us. He has sustained us and will continue to do so in the days ahead.

**Share Your Thoughts!**

Mar. 5, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by MamaMary

I LOVED reading this Pam. I don't think I've ever heard your HS'ing testimony before? I'm so glad you DID decide to homeschool or how else would I have ever met you?

(((Big Smile)))

Mary

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Mar. 6, 2007 - Untitled Comment

Posted by DanielleW