Our homeschool group had an interesting field trip a couple weeks ago. I love field trips! I always learn as much as my children do. I suppose that's why I so enjoy homeschooling! I learn so many things right alongside them. It's amazing how much I did NOT learn from my public school education, despite the jam-packed, busyness of the long days. I'm so thankful that God allows me the privilege of educating my children at home, to be involved in the daily joys, trials, accomplishments and struggles of learning.

It hasn't always been this way, though. I think back to the early years when my high school senior was ready to begin kindergarten. Homeschooling was foreign to me. I did know some families from church who homeschooled, but still....I thought it was weird. So, my husband and I put our five year old little man in public school (I feel sick at my stomach thinking back on it now). And there he stayed in public school for four years. Was I that stubborn, or did God just not convict right away?

Well, we brought him home after third grade, and these last years I wouldn't trade for anything. Of course, there have been many trials and struggles, but the joys and triumphs far outweigh them. We did struggle with whether or not to homeschool through high school, though. After much prayer, we decided to send Ryan to a small Christian school in our community in his 9th grade year. And now he's a senior.

However, I do have two children at home. My daughter, Kate, is in seventh grade, and my youngest son, Will, is in fourth grade. They have been homeschooled their whole lives and I pray that God will allow me to continue to teach them at home. Through the years, He has given me more confidence in myself as their teacher. Why does that seem to be a source of weakness for me? Of course I'm their teacher! He gave these children to me, didn't He? I know their learning styles, their faults, their quirks, what makes them tick...of course I'm their teacher. 

And while I'm teaching them, I'm learning right alongside them. That's the way it should be. The joy of homeschooling...I'm so thankful that God has led me down this path.