It's that time of year! Blessed to have HOD!

[lmercon]

As I read over posts on several popular hsing forums, I never cease to be amazed at the frantic turmoil, especially at this time of year, that so many of these moms are in as they mull over and over what program they should use for each of the many subjects they teach! There are SO MANY programs out there! Beyond that, just trying to piece everything together into a cohesive, organized day seems daunting to me. It seems as if days could get so bogged down as you try to do every subject every day. And don't even get me started about convention stress! I read so many posts about people switching to something else mid-year or for next year. That can't be good for kids to be switching from one program or method to another. Then you read all the posts about schedules, planners, and organizational products! I get exhausted just reading the posts.

I'm a former ps fourth grade teacher, so I know all about curriculum writing and implementation. I have that innate desire to build a beautiful product myself. I'm almost jealous that I haven't had a hand in writing HOD because it's so much of what I would write - but I'll have to confess - it's better. I've seen, now that we've done years of HOD, the genius and skill with which HOD is written. I am so grateful for a seamless program that is balanced, deep, rich, godly, and effective.

When I read posts that put down HOD, I just have to shake my head. I know each family is different...yadda...yadda...yadda. I've been in the field of education for many years. HOD is THE VERY BEST that is out there - hands down.

I'm grateful and feel blessed to raise my dc with HOD.

Laura

[RachelB]

Oh, I agree completely! Love HOD and there's so much peace in knowing exactly what we're using next year, and the year after, and the year after, and so on!

[psreit]

I was telling someone that I wasn't going to convention this year. HOD would not be there, and I had ordered Bigger through the mail. So, I am all set. It felt so good! I like to go to convention to hear some of the speakers, and look at some of the extra fun products and books available. But, my schedule was hectic and I decided I should skip convention this year. We've finished two years of HOD, and have no plans to go elsewhere. It is great to have peace and consistency in our homeschool journey! I only wish I would have felt that way with my older kids, but grateful they were grounded spiritually and learned in spite of my inconsistencies.

Laura, with your being in the educational field, I value your input. Any former traditional teachers (other than Carrie or Julie ) using HOD, that put HOD on top of anything else, should send a clear message that we do have the best for our dc!

Thank you, Carrie!

[Kathleen]

I am so grateful for a seamless program that is balanced, deep, rich, godly, and effective.

ME TOO!! HOD is fabulous! And our only decision is WHEN to order the goods. I don't take for granted the hours and hours that I'm able to spend enjoying my kids and family since I don't need to be researching other options. We're here with HOD for the long haul!

Kathleen

[mom23]

Agreed!!

[momtofive]

Just chiming in to agree with all the posters! I am so thankful for what HOD has done in our home and for our school! My children are learning WAY more than I ever learned in school, and ENJOYING the process more too! I have to agree with what Laura was saying about the indecision that so many others are facing when having to look for new products each year, and having to switch so much. We are truly blessed to have HOD!

It just gets better and better with each guide that comes out! Everything I've ever wanted to check out or use eventually in our school, keeps showing up and being used in the guides to come!

I just finished reading a great book on whole-hearted homeschooling, and it was so refreshing because everything in that book made me so glad that we are using HOD! As I read the book, I was just reminded more and more of how wonderfully suited HOD is to our homeschooling goals. The authors don't advocate buying any certain curriculum, but recommend a method of how to teach our kids according God's Word, and using many of the CM methods, like whole books and narration. However, instead of pulling this great education together all by myself (like they recommend), I can use HOD, which God has so graciously provided to us!

The more time that goes by, I realize that if I did write my own curriculum it would want it to be just like HOD! Of course, God hasn't blessed me with the talent of Carrie Austin, which is why we're so thankful that she's followed God's call to provide this wonderful curriculum for us to use!

I pray that God continues to bless everyone at HOD and the Austins as they continue God's work in our lives!

[my3sons]

I couldn't agree with you more! I too am thankful for Carrie's hard work to make my year such a joy! I could really bog down in the planning and preparing parts of homeschooling without HOD. I can see myself nights, weekends, holidays - seriously - planning, planning, planning. While I certainly could plan, I am oh so thankful Carrie does. She has a God-given talent for it! I, on the other hand, LOVE that I get to enjoy my TEACHING instead of stressing about the rest. I agree - so many others at this time of year are stressed, searching, in turmoil - your great post here reminded me what a blessing it is to be content. Thanks!

In Christ,
Julie

[Heather4Him]

TOTALLY agree with all of you!! HOD is amazing, and I'm super grateful to Carrie for doing all the hard work so that SO MANY other moms and families can benefit from it!! Her talents are being multiplied many times over, just as Jesus told us to do in the Bible. Thank you, Carrie, for letting God use you in this wonderful way!!

[LynnH]

I completely agree. I love that the only thing I have to worry about with my ds is his math since he came home in 5th grade and I didn't think we could jump in to Singapore. I know he is going to have a good year and learn so much. I just finished reading all the books for Rev to Rev that he will read on his own. Wow they are good! I learned so much. I can't wait until he learns that one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence had shaky hands just like he does.

I also get the pain of experiencing the agonizing over curriculum aspect since my dd came home as a 10th grader and I HOD wouldn't work for her with the credits she needed. It is awful and keeps me up at night. I am so glad that she is taking 4 classes as dual enrollment next year because that is 4 things I don't have to plan.

A very good friend of mine who was an 8th grade public school teacher is always talking about how amazed she is at all the things I teach ds. In fact she keeps trying to talk me into homeschooling her ds at some point. I keep telling her it is HOD that makes it so easy.