My intro

[MamaBear23Cubs]

I am a new to home schooling mom. We started this journey in the fall of 2006. It was just going to be a short term thing while hubby was stationed in Maine. This meant that my daughter would go back to school for the fourth grade. Now I have learned that will be moving quite a bit in the next three years so home schooling will continue until further notice. My girls will be 3 and 8 this spring and my son just turned 4. During the good weather which for us is April thru October you can find us camping at local parks and private campgrounds. My husband?s dream is to be a park ranger so we spend a lot of time outside. During the winter months we do a lot of crafts. I like to knit and sew and am trying to get my oldest interested in it as well. I started my younger two on Little Hands to Heaven. We haven't gone far (finishing up Unit 7) but I know this is the right fit for them. I plan on going thru this book twice. My oldest, poor girl has been taught with different methods. I am still trying to find what works for her. I like workbooks because they keep me organized but my daughter really likes to read books. I am trying to find something that is less textbook/workbook and more reading. I have bought lots of level books and then have her tell me about them and this seems to be working. I am going to give Beyond Little Hearts for His Glory a try this spring and see how it works. Next week is our last week of normal schooling and then we will be doing half days because we are getting ready to move to the Midwest. I will be there for a year and then back to the Northeast and then we will move to the Southeast. We won?t be settled in one state until 2010. We will still be a military family but my husband can pretty much bet on staying in one spot after this tour is done. We are also planning on spending the 2009 summer living in our travel trailer.

[Melanie]

Welcome MamaBear ! Nice to have you here and I hope you find HOD a perfect fit for your dc. I have friend whose dh is military (they're stationed in San Antonio currently but headed to CA this year) and they hs for many reasons, but one of the reasons is so their dc don't have to change schools so many times.

I have to warn you....it's not much warmer here in the mid-west than it is in the NE this year....we're having a very bitter winter!

[beandip71]

Welcome to the boards ! I hope Beyond works out well for your dd. we are planning on using it next year.

Gina

[blessedmomof4]

Welcome! My hubby is former military, but he got out before we got married. My heart goes out to you who have to bounce around due to your hubby's career! It's a pleasure to meet you, and glad you have found HOD like the rest of us-it is very good at helping busy moms stay on track

[water2wine]

Wow! You life sounds exciting. Homeshooling sounds perfect. You could definitely be taking advantage of being all over the US. How fun! Hope you love Beyond and welcome!

BTW I think my dh would love to be a park ranger too. We love the outdoors!

[mom2boys030507]

Welcome. I really hope you and your dd enjoy Beyond. I am using Little Hearts now and love it and will be using Beyond when we are done. I am also starting Little Hands and plan to go thru it twice also with my middle. Welcome to the HOD family:)

[Carrie]

Welcome! We're so glad you're here. It sounds like you will see a fair amount of the country in the next few years! We love living in the Midwest, by the way, and hope you will enjoy it too.

We're excited to have you on the board to become a part of HOD. The ladies here are wonderful, and we pray you'll feel all of us uplifting and encouraging you.

Blessings,
Carrie

[momof4]

Hello! I'm sure you will enjoy Little Hands. It's a lot of fun! The people on this board are wonderful also. I've just been pouring over these posts soaking in their advice.

I had to laugh when I read Park Ranger. It reminds me of one of our pastors. He was going to become a Park Ranger because he liked the outdoors, but it was also away from PEOPLE. That's right. I said he was our pastor and a very fine one at that.

Welcome!
Laurie

[MainelyJen]

I was raised in a military family (Navy) and all the moving and switching public schools was very hard. I just can't imagine all the packing and unpacking! I am one who has moved several times and hopes to stay where I am until they take my 90 yr old body out on a stretcher!

I think you have made the right decision for your children - they need stability and consistency and you can give them that. Bravo!

I just had to come over and shake hands (so to speak) with a fellow knitter! I just picked it up last year and I'm hooked! I went from a simple garter stitch scarf to knitting socks on four needles. It is the most relaxing thing in the world. My former crafting hobby was counted cross-stitch on linen -- it took lots more concentration than knitting. The instant gratification loving part of me enjoys how quickly you have a finished product when knitting!

[MamaMary]

Welcome! I loved your intro. I hope you get all the answers you need to see if HOD is for you. Of coarse, most of the women over here are a little "prejudiced", in that they LOVE and FAVOR HOD.

I think HOD sounds like a good fit for you. It's simple enough that whether you move around or stay put it won't take a lot of effort to simply pull it back out and start. No prep. I also think you will love the fun, purposeful and easy to implement crafts, since you are crafty!

Now you and Jen are making me want to learn how to knit!

[inHistiming]

My husband has been in 4 locations since Fall, 2005. We (temporarily) moved to Va from Fl in September of 2005 on a field assignment my husband accepted. Although we had a verbal agreement with the company it would be no shorter than 3 months, the contract did not state this and we only spent 8 weeks there. Then, back to Florida. In November of 2006 my husband accepted another field assignment, in Maryland this time. We decided the kids and I would stay in Fl, and he would fly home bi-monthly for visits. Homeschooling worked well for us in both these instances because were able to go on special field trips when we wouldn't have been able to otherwise, and the kids were able to take time off when Daddy came for a visit. My husband arrived back in Florida on May 1 of 2007, to be asked to interview for a job in Western New York the very same day! He and I flew together to the interview so I could check out the area, too. We loved what we saw, and ended up moving to NY in July of 2007. We've been here about 6 months and homeschooling has been excellent. The 'rules' are much more strict here than Fl, and I miss that freedom, but we are still much more flexible than we would be if they were in PS. We live about a quarter mile from the school they would be attending if in PS. We are able to attend ice skating classes, a special homeschoolers camp each week, and we take various and numerous fiels trips with Daddy on the weekends. I love it! We have 6 months left in our "tour" here (not military) and then we're not sure. We may be back to Fl, stay in NY or in some other location across the country or the world. Having made the choice to homeschool has enriched our lives, made us a stronger family, and has provided the stability that is needed when everything else changes so often. Good luck in your endeavors. I know God will lead you in just the right direction.

[Tansy]

just wanted to say welcome!

Were a missionary family that lives in the united states. We don't travel except to raise support then we are on the road for weeks at a time.
I'm so grateful I can follow my Call, still have hot running water, and be able to call the exterminator. We work for the Home team of over 16,000 native missionaries. Tho I would love the chance to live in Asia