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This is our first year homeschooling and at first my oldest was not too thrilled about it. She had gone to kindergarten at a private school and absolutely loved everything about it....her teacher, seeing her friends all the time, lunchtime, recess, snacktime, science, art, being line leader, chapel, and the list goes on and on.

Even though I knew God's will was for me to homeschool this year, I struggled with all the things she would be "missing out on" by being at home. I was worried about her missing her friends and not getting that interaction on a daily basis. I was worried that I might not do as well a job as a trained teacher would do. I was worried about other fun stuff that goes on in a class setting that we wouldn't really be able to do.

On the first day of homeschool my sweet daughter basically said she wasn't going to homeschool. Thankfully she didn't keep that attitude for long and has been really enjoying homeschool, but she still made comments for several months about missing her friends and wanting to go to "real" school.

Well, a few months ago she made a comment that was music to my ears. She said she thought everyone should homeschool and she asked me why everyone didn't. And then last week, I was getting my list together of what to buy for next year and she exclaimed, "Yeah, we're homeschooling again next year"? I was so thrilled to see her excitement about it. And yesterday she said she wished it were Monday so we could do school!

I can also tell you with all honesty that I no longer worry about all the things I thought my kids would be missing out on by being at home and they pale in comparison to what they gain by me being able to teach them at home. I absolutely love homeschooling and love how Christ centered and God honoring HOD is. My girls are loving it and I'm so thankful to Carrie for being obedient to God's calling to use her talents and gifts to honor Him and be such a ministry and help to others.

We are all so excited and eager for next year and can't wait to order everything and look it all over. My tax return can't get here fast enough so I can order it all (of course getting my taxes filed would probably help speed things along)!

April - I'm so happy for you that your year has gone well and you're enjoying the blessing of being able to teach your girls! Your dd's comments I'm sure will encourage you through the challenges that will continue to come. I think God gives us moms those little bits of encouragement just when we need them so that we can treasure them in our hearts when we need the extra boost.

I had a similar experience last year with my oldest. He picked a week that I was wishing we could just erase and do over (because everything that could go wrong had...and we had attitude issues raring their ugly heads) to ask, "Mom, are you going to homeschool me next year?" My thought was, Oh no, he wants to go back to school because his mom yells at him and he misses his friends... I told him, "Yep! We're going to homeschool until God lets us know that He wants us to send you somewhere else." He said, "GREAT! Becuase I love having you as my teacher, and I sure miss Allison and Garret when I have to be gone all day!" Ahhh! God encouraged me so much through those words when I was feeling inadequate.

Kathleen

April,

Thank you for sharing your experience and your heart.
I love hearing about how God leads each one of us to exactly the place we should be! It is so neat to hear how everything has come together so well despite your initial fears and worries and your daughter's longing for her previous school.
Congratulations on finding happiness and excitement within your homeschool, yay!

Candice

April,

Thank you so much for taking time to share your heart with us. You did a great job of summing up how most of us feel at the beginning of the homeschool journey. I'm so glad that you're having a good year with LHFHG and that your daughter has come around to seeing the joys and blessing of homeschooling! What an answered prayer that must be.

I pray you'll be drawn ever closer as a family and to the Lord as you head into Beyond next year. Thanks for sharing your experiences!

It was a blessing to me today!
Carrie

Oh April,

What a beautiful testimony. God is so good. He is faithful. Thank you for sharing your heart..., (((Big Appreciative Hugs)))

How wonderful that your daughter has come around and is now embracing homeschooling! The Lord is so good to give us the encouragement and confirmation we need just when we need it. Thank-you for sharing your testimony.

After having to correct my daughter's lazy handwriting efforts today and giving her more practice to do, she turned to me told me how much she loved me. That was the last thing I expected out of her mouth, especially after being corrected.

Nancy

Oh, Nancy! That is so precious! What a sweet thing for your little girl to do!

Blessings,
Carrie

April,

That is such a wonderful testimony. I so agree with you the things that can be gained in hsing can never be gotten any place else. The memories and the bonding time with parents I think is far out weighed over friends and school experience. So glad you are enjoying it and that your family is blessed by it. Thank you for sharing your story.

April - I felt that way at first too - always worrying about what they might be missing. Now, I've come to feel just the opposite - worried about what they'd be missing if they weren't homeschooled. I'm so glad God planned that encouragement for you from your dd! Being in His will brings joy - also hardship sometimes, as Satan isn't too keen on us homeschooling our dc to know the Lord. But, this was a moment of joy to treasured and remembered! Thanks for sharing!

In Christ,
Julie