I have hesitated to write this post for weeks ... but I am going to. Perhaps the Lord is compelling me to now! HOD mirrors what we want academically for our children and presents a wonderful plan for guiding the kiddos spiritually. I think Carrie's gifts and abilities are quite evident within the guides. I absolutely LOVE what I see....the strong skill PROGRESSION is very important to me which is why keeping my children within appropriate guides is key (in my heart and mind). I threw out all of my other plans and went full steam ahead preparing to begin HOD....and I just couldn't do it. I've postponed our start date for weeks because every time I approach "starting" I feel the sadness at seeing my children have to separate for their studies over the years. Now, keep in mind that my oldest three children have 3.5 years exactly between Kid #1 and Kid #3. Right now, that is a good spread developmentally and separating these kiddos into differing guides would be GREAT (and they're young enough that they could easily listen in to one another, engage in science & art projects amongst guides, etc.). HOWEVER, in about two years when my daughter is a 2nd grader (though a VERY YOUNG one), next son is 3rd grade, and my oldest is in 5th grade I honestly think I will MISS the multi-teaching aspect with this tight group. That will be the time when my oldest son is working largely independently (in CTC or RTR depending on our pace) and out of necessity (for completing his work and remaining on task) he'll no longer have the freedom to move around amongst the other kids. He has to work his guide
. The other kiddos will be at Bigger at that point ... that's busy. I also see, and believe pretty firmly at this point, my daughter needing to break away from her brother and slow down to half speed for Bigger. I DO NOT want to put her in Preparing until she is 9. That is a personal "conviction" at this point but one that I feel strongly about based on my academic goals & pacing for my kids. So, in about two years my 3 kiddos will all be working separately from one another.... sniff sniff 
...This has torn my heart in half. Literally. I have agonized day and night in prayer, in relentless discussion with my dear husband, in asking ??s on another forum, in evaluating goals for our family. I am quite honestly feeling completely STUCK. I don't want to "try" HOD
...I want to USE it. But, I think that in the process of preparing to use it a STRONG priority to study TOGETHER has surfaced. It took me quite by surprise and drove me to spinning our wheels for the past few weeks. I would not feel this way if my kids were more spread out (or so squished together that they could all study in one guide and be appropriately challenged). As it is my baby will be easy because he CAN study HOD at his pace with no worries about combining. He is too far removed age wise to consider in the combining/not combining area. I think he will be my HOD kiddo for sure 
and I have his curriculum already purchased for his first 5 years of school!!!I'm not even sure if I have a question. HOD being as excellent as it is is not in question. But, the very real decision before us is that we may have to decide NOT to use HOD because we NEED (out of conviction) to keep our oldest 3 on the same page as much as possible.....
If you have faced this challenge in your home and chose to stay with HOD over the years will you share with me? Of course, the mind of man plans his way but it is the LORD who directs our steps!! Oy! We walk by faith and not by sight....either decision is a step out in faith. However, I NEED to make a decision and I'd like to make one that I can stay with and settle in with. Starting HOD and then having to quit after two years so we can combine just doesn't sound good to me. I would grieve it all even more after having tasted of USING HOD....I'd rather NOT start on the HOD path if I will have to step off out of necessity.
I really hated to write this post....HOD is just really how I want to school my children but day to day to day I can SEE my kids NOT wanting to separate from one another because they're pretty close now. They LOVE learning together and I LOVE the group feel that we've had. I keep thinking that we won't be able to have that with HOD because, as I wrote above, within two years I'll likely have the kids in 3 separate places/guides.
Thanks so much for listening and for pondering with me.
I have LOVED this forum and have learned so much. So many wise Moms here. HOD has already been a blessing and we've only implemented Little Hands to Heaven .
). I'll try and explain as best as possible. I'm not so good with words. 
There's a big push to combine as a family and yes the family is important. God definitely deals with individuals as well. Where I'm at in life, is a different place than you, my dh, my in-laws. God doesn't try to lump us all together and teach us all the same things at the same time. He sees what I need, what you need, what dh nees, etc. He meets us right where we are at with what we need to learn. This causes growth in us. Now that doesn't mean that you, dh, my in-laws, and I can't have fellowship and do certain things together, but it means we're getting our individual needs met. I hope it makes sense and again, it may not be applicable to you. You have to have peace that only He can give. Praying for you. 