Posted in Lessons I Have Learned

As I am growing older and becoming a more experienced homeschooler I am realizing that I am stepping more into the role of mentor in my homeschooling life.  This has led me to stop and reflect on the wonderful mentors I have had in my homeschooling journey.  I have had several women in my life that I consider mentors.  But, I really want to tell you about my friend Faye. 

Faye is an AMAZING women!  Before she was married and had children she was a fulltime Evangelist.  She traveled all over the world singing.  She has an amazing voice and I always tried to make sure I was sitting as close as possible to her at church so I could hear her!  She actually met her husband on a cruise ship.  She was singing on a Christian singles cruise.  They met there and married soon after.  During the early years of their marriage she continued to travel and sing and even traveled with her oldest son until he was about a year old.  Of course just traveling and singing wasn't enough to keep this dynamic lady busy.  She also played the piano at church, sang in the choir, sang at weddings and taught piano and voice lessons.  (She still does all this!) Soon son number 2 came along and she settled in to being a VERY busy Mom.  Homeschooling had never entered her mind.  But, one day a friend who was a homeschooler started talking to her about homeschooling and the next thing she knew she was hooked!  She jumped into homeschooling with both feet!  By the time I met her she was homeschooling her 2 sons ages 5 and 7 as well as leading the local homeschool group.(Which she continued to lead until her oldest was in Jr. High!)  I met Faye through Awana.  I was a Sparks Leader and I had her 5 year old son in my group.  I was always amazed how advanced he was. I was excited when he told me he was homeschooled, since I was planning on homeschooling my then 3 year old son.  I finally met Faye the last night of Awana and we were pretty much best friends from the start!  The day after we met we talked for several hours on the phone!  LOL  Before long we carpooled to about every field trip.  Our sons became the best of friends and I was so greatful that my then only child had these boys who loved him like a brother!  During this time is when Faye really became my mentor. Faye is one of those people who makes homeschooling look easy!   I know she was busy with her kids, teaching music, and LIFE...But, we talked everyday on the phone and she always had time for me.  She advised me on curriculum, held my hand as I attended my 1st (2nd & 3rd) homeschooling conference, watched my son when I needed a sitter, answered a zillion questions and never made me feel like  a pest!  LOL  Truly during this time I really took for granted how blessed I was to have her in my life, but as I look back I cannot imagine starting this journey called homeschooling without her!!!!  Faye and I have continued to be friends even though we now live hundreds of miles apart. (boo hoo hoo...)  I still call her when I have homeschooling questions since her boys are now both homeschooled highschoolers. (And doing quite well I might add!)  I am as amazed by her today as I was the day I was blessed to meet her 9 years ago...

Oh, by the way, there is one thing I forgot to tell you about Faye.  She is blind.  She has been all her life.  The next time you start feeling like homeschooling is getting hard, I hope you will be inspired by my friend Faye.  I am inspired by her every day!!!