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I just wanted to share my excitement with my HOD family. My two younger sons, whom we adopted 6 years ago from Ethiopia, are finally using HOD materials! It's been a long journey with them academically thus far. We've had to really focus on basics for so long. I've dreamed of when HOD would work for them and we could start the same journey we've enjoyed with my three older children. I won't go into details here about why we waited so long. I've had a hard time accepting that my older son (who just turned 10) will be so far behind. But, I'm learning (albeit slowly) how to accept and embrace his limitations while constantly encouraging him onward and cheering his successes. So, both boys are now using the Beyond guide - and it is a perfect fit for them both. They have both told me how much they love school now and my 10 yo told me just this week that when he woke up "he was excited to do school". I've not heard those words from him before.

I have one child about to graduate with HOD and now two more children just beginning the journey. I am once again so thankful for what Carrie has provided for us. I really don't have words to say what her work has meant for our family. I'm thankful and praising God today for the blessing of homeschooling. It's not always easy (in fact it can seem downright impossible at times), but the fruit that I'm seeing now that we are at the end for one child is enough motivation to keep me going for the long haul once again with my two younger ones. Just wanted to share today...

Oh Tiffini what wonderful news!! I remember just last year at the convention you said you didn't know if they would ever get to the point of using HOD. That is amazing they are both now using it and enjoying it! Enjoy your journey through Beyond with them.

Tiffini - I totally understand!! I started HOD with my younger boys this fall (hoping to school them together, but it did not work....and they are better off separated). The younger was adopted from Haiti 19 months ago at age 6.5 (he will be 8 soon). The first year he was home we focused on language and little else. He could not sit still to listen to stories (or understand them), and was not able to play by himself. We have been using LHFHG since the fall (1st grade) and I can see such an improvement in his listening skills (he has little desire to learn to read so that is still a struggle). I think I could now switch him over to Beyond with no problems but will wait till the fall as we are only half way though LHFHG. Some of the things seem babyish to him so we skip them. We are done with his work in maybe an hour (or less) and he really likes that. My older son (adopted at age 2 years from China, just turned 10) has major learning disabilities and struggled with learning to read and math. He still struggles with math (he can't seem to memorize the basic addition facts) and is in only 2nd grade math. He is in Bigger this year and loves it most of the time...the only thing now is he was to do more independently (I let him do some of the science & history notebooking by himself). He is ready for that part of preparing, but not for some of the academic stuff yet. We are on Unit 16 of Bigger. I also have a 14 year old daughter (adopted from China at age 14 months) who is in RtR and has learning disabilities as well. All 3 of my younger ones struggle to some degree. The oldest (17 year old daughter, adopted from India at age 5 months) struggles with math but is a wiz with reading, loves history, can write better way than me and is extremely talented artistically (she will be graduating this year and going into fashion design and fine arts).

Thank you for sharing your story, Wendy! It really does help to hear from others who have been in similar situations and to hear how it is working for you. We have to be flexible and willing to change and accommodate each individual child. It's a constant situation of trust and dependence on the Lord for guidance and wisdom, isn't it? I'm so thankful your family has found what works best for each child - for now! Thanks again!

This is such wonderful news!! God Bless your family and your children's journey through learning!!