heartofdakota.com

Hello everyone,
Just thought I would pop in and say "Hi"

My name is Debbie, I am married to Ben. We have three beautiful children, Hannah (nearly 6) Amelia (nearly 4) and Sebastian (nearly 2). We have all the birthdays close together!!!

We love Jesus, and feel so unbelievably thankful to be saved by His blood on the cross, infact it amazes me everyday, as I reflect on how great God's love is for us

We live on the east coast of Australia (just south of Sydney), which is beautiful. We are blessed to be nestled between the mountains and the sea. In fact we can drive 5 minutes either way, and be bush walking or swimming at the beach. The weather is really great most of the year round (wow, it sounds really nice, be sure to look us up if you ever come to Australia, and we will show you around!!)

We feel like we have been homeschooling since day 1 of having children, but have officially started at the beginning of this year. I have been mainly searching curriculums, reading amazing homeschooling books/websites and having my mind opened to this amazing homeschool community!! As well as God teaching me about teaching my children, I have also had a little bit of time to start teaching my children too!!!

Homeschooling is still quiet new in Australia, although there a quiet a few families around that have homeschool their children right through to the end of high school. We often get some very strange looks when we tell people we are homeschooling "you're what??" "what's that???" "what about socialisation??" Even with all the strange looks we are really excited, and love being with our kids, so are really glad we don't have to send them away 6 hours a day, 5 days a week (mind you, that comment sometimes get the strangest looks of all!! )

We just recently stumbled across HOD, and I am soooooo totally excited, as it really feels to pull together everything that I feel I would like my homeschool to be. I think God has blessed Carrie with amazing insight and ideas, and I am thankful that she is also blessing us

I am interested to know if there is anyone else from Australia using HOD?

Anyway, I really look foward to getting to "know" you all as we journey together!!!

Love Deb

Welcome Deb!
My hubby wants to visit a place like where you live. It sounds so nice!
I can't help with others in your area, but wanted to send some encouragement being a pioneer in the homeschooling movement over there!
Crystal

Welcome Debbie!

Your home sounds beautiful I thought living in NC was a little bit of heaven (still do) but I definitely don't have a 5-minute drive to the beach. Your family will love HOD, this is our 1st year hsing and my boys are loving it. We were in the store the other day and they just started singing "Holy, Holy, Holy" and "Let the Little Children Come to Me." I almost started crying I've been a Christian since I was a teenager but have been very rebellious toward God and tried to guide my own life but over the past 2 years have realized that He is in control and has a plan for me. So now I'm trying to teach my children about God and at the same time I'm learning things too! Welcome to HOD

I just wanted to say welcome! I enjoyed reading about your family and I love the names you gave your children. I think you will love HOD. We have found it is the absolute perfect fit for our family and love how it really teaches them to see God in everything. I know you will enjoy it too. Just wanted to say welcome.

Welcome, Deb! Oh my goodness...nestled between the mountains and the sea...just amazing! Blessings~
Ginger (who is just nestled between the Blue Ridge foothills, with the sea no where in sight!)

Deb I just want to say welcome to HOD!!!

I have been to Australia about 13 years ago on a mission trip when I was 16. I was in Brisbane and the surrounding areas. Never ventured near Sydney though! I loved Australia and I keep telling my husband that we must go there.

I am so excited for you to have made this decision especially when it is not a popular one. God is going to bless you through this.

Hi Deb!

Austrailia is near the top of my "someday" list...sounds incredable!

I think you'll love it here in HOD-land too.

HI Deb, and welcome to the HOD board! I loved reading your post, and your heart for the Lord really comes shining through! You fit in beautifully on this board, and HOD is going to be an incredible blessing to you and your family. I am so glad you are here, and I wish I could hop over to Australia and visit - it sounds breathtaking.

Love in Christ,
Julie

Welcome, Debbie!

I have to agree with you that I'm so glad to have found HOD! I think you're going to love using it as you homeschool your kids. It really does sound like you live in a beautiful spot! I love the mountains!! (And the sea would be nice, too. )

I know there was another mom on the boards from Australia last spring/early summer. I don't think I've "seen" her here lately. (I don't know what part of the country she was from either.) She had 2 girls and was using Bigger... with them. (I think they were 9 & 7 years old) Now if I could only remember her name... Ok, I did a search, and her name was lil' ladies here, Annie in real life, and she's from Sydney! Here's a link to one of her posts. viewtopic.php?f=6&t=688&p=5025&hilit=Australia#p5025

Kathleen

Hi,
You'll love HOD and this board! Glad to have you here.
Laura

Wow, hi everyone, thanks so much for your welcomes!!!

I have been away this weekend on a women's convention, and have just gotten home to see all your lovely replies, and feel very welcomed to the group . The convention I was at was amazing. We had 6 talks over the weekend on Colossians. It was all about being a complete women in Christ, complete thanksgiving, complete forgiveness. I was so encouraged to be reminded that I don't get my "completeness" from the world, but from Christ alone. I am really looking forward to reading over Colossians this week in my quiet times!! There were over 3 thousand women at the convention (the singing was so amazing!!)

I am really grateful for all your lovely comments, and welcomes. I am really looking forward to starting with HOD (which by the way turned up a half an hour before I left to go on Friday, it was so exciting to get a package all the way from America ) I also look forward to getting to "know" you all better

Oh, and thankyou, by the way, to the lady who did such great detective work in finding the other "Aussie" on the group!!!

"chat" soon

Love Deb

Hi Debbie,

Welcome to HOD! I am late chiming in here, but loved reading your intro. Just this morning we were singing..., "Hop, hop to Australia. Hop, hop to Australia, Hop, hop to Australia, God made kangaroos hop there! (This is from "Little Hearts" and it's a song Carrie uses to teach the continents) I wish HOD had been around when I began homeschooling 11 years ago. It truly does the best job of pulling Christ into ever facet of all the programs our family has used through the years. I look forward to getting to know you and your sweet family better as you go along.

Hi Debbie,

Welcome to HOD! I am sure you will love HOD. We will be starting Bigger Hearts next week. It just so happens that I have family in Australia. In fact just last week my cousin was in the States from Australia and came and stayed with my mother for a few days. It was great to meet her for the first time and get to see and hear about my uncle who I have not seen in around 15 years. This is my mother's brother. They live outside Sydney. I love Australia and I plan to take a trip there at some point. It's honestly a shame that we have never been there.

Blessings to you,
Paige in TN
Joshua 9 BHFHG
Jacob 2 Before Five in a Row

welcome