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New here--an introduction

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:35 pm
by Vicki
I've been lurking for a couple of weeks here--finally decided to go ahead and order, and now I'm here to tell about what we're doing.

After using so many different things, or I should say attempting to use, I finally became fed up with the way our school days were going. Straight down hill, and in a hurry--kind of like a snow skier going down the slopes, and we were reaching the bottom all too soon each day. I've probably got enough stuff here to start my own school :oops: , but it just wasn't coming together in any fashion that made our days peaceful and the learning stick.

I truly can't remember where I even first heard of this curriculum--it could have been homeschool reviews board, but I'm not sure. The thing is, and I need a big :D here---we found it!! What a blessing!!

I just received my copy of the package for Beyond last week, and over the weekend I read through and tried to wrap my mind around how it would work for us. I had read the online sample pages, and they seemed to draw me in; but to me there is nothing like having the book in your hands to see how it all works together. The more I read ahead to see what future lessons hold in store for us, the more I become excited to continue on with this curriculum. It is just so well put together.

Today is our third day of using Beyond, and each day we've finished by around noon-ish. I have saved the storytime for evening reading, and right now that seems to work best for us. It's the connections that I read about here that are already happening in just 3 days! The Scripture verse was memorized yesterday, and today he said it for me before I even had a chance to get started with our Scripture time! Amazing!!

We're having fun already, and I look forward to more fun days ahead! This is truly an answer to prayer for me. I stayed up each night for the last few weeks worrying over how our homeschool would ever move forward. Finally I just turned it over to the Lord's hands, and let it go from my shoulders. It must have been shortly after that I read about HOD and I came here to look, and well, the rest is history.

I wasn't sure where to start my 7 y/o, but Carrie talked to me on the phone and helped me with the right placement. I do have to admit that I worried for a moment that I should have gone with Bigger instead of Beyond, but Carrie truly knows what's best, and this is the perfect fit for us!

The only thing I do differently is Math, and we're using something very similar to Singapore. I feel good that I was already making a decision that seemed to go-along with the program in that aspect.

So, all this is to say--thanks so much, Carrie!! What a blessing this is to my family!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:43 pm
by my3sons
Hi Vicki! It is so nice to meet you, and I am glad you are here! We did Beyond... last year, and I look back on it so fondly. I can promise you Bigger... is equally as wonderful. Thanks for sharing your journey with HOD! Carrie's heart and soul are in this, so I know she'll pour over your post and be smiling all the way through. You'll find this board to be full of positive and encouraging moms... and I can already tell you'll fit right in... May God continue to bless your homeschooling!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:59 pm
by water2wine
Vickie that is so exciting. I completely know what you are talking about with having so much stuff searching to try to find that something you do not even know for sure what it looks like. I bought my first HOD manual because it was inexpensive and I had most of the books :wink: and well just in case something I was using did not quite work. Eventually I began to think how weird it was the thing I was adding was the thing that was working better than the program. And since I was just doing part of it here and there it took me a little why to say good bye to what I wanted to love and hello to what I could not help but love. When I got the whole thing it only got better. And now well, all six are with HOD.

I am so glad it is working for you!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:13 pm
by paliz
Welcome. I'm using Beyond also and just joined the boards. It is such a great program.

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:30 pm
by Vicki
Thanks for your very warm welcome!

I'm so excited to finally find something that will work for us, and it's nice to have a place to chat about it too! :D

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 2:53 pm
by Candice
Hi Vicki,

Wanted to say hello and I loved reading your post. Nice to hear how happy you and your family are. Carrie really does seem to have some magic with putting together a great curriculum. Well, I do know that she would probably say it is not magic but the Lord's hand in helping her!


Candice

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:00 pm
by Melanie
Hi Vicki! :D Welcome to the boards. Isn't this a great place? All of these great Beyond post make me excited about next year!

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:03 pm
by 6timeboymom
welcome!!! glad you found the boards and the amazing curriculum Carrie has built! :-)

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:37 pm
by Carrie
Vicki,

Welcome to the boards! We're so glad you're here. Aren't the moms on this board just wonderful? You all are so encouraging and uplifting that it is a joy to join you here! :D

I am so blessed by your post today, Vicki. Thank you for taking time to share your heart with all of us. It is all of you that we pray for as we write our guides ... praying that they may glorify our heavenly Father, first foremost, and secondly that our guides may be a blessing to other homeschool families (like yours).

So, you see, your post is an answer to prayer for us! :wink:

Blessings,
Carrie

Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 4:11 pm
by beandip71
Hi and Welcome! :D I loved reading your post. I am going to use Beyond next year and am looking forward to it.

Gina