Back to Home

We are back to our studies once again looking forward to a fun year of learning, exploring, discussing, pondering and discovering! It's hard to believe that this will be our 5th year homeschooling and sometimes I feel like I have it figured out but more often than not, I feel like I don't. 

Do you ever feel that way? I think one thing this year that is different for me from the previous years is the realization that I don't have to be perfect, have the "perfect" curriculum (by the way, it doesn't exist), have the "perfect" schedule or anything else - I just need God's grace and His direction and trust that "He's got this!" I need to wake up every day and get my "marching orders" from Him. And that sometimes the distractions of our day (or things I think are distractions) are just what was planned all along. I've known this in my head for years but I've finally let it sink into my heart.

A book that has helped me come to this realization is called Teaching from Rest by Sarah Mackenzie. I started this book earlier this summer and this handy little book has helped me SO much! Whether you're new to home school or have been homeschooling for years, this is a must-read book. Mackenzie gives so much insight and truth about why we are homeschooling (raising Christ followers), who we are living and homeschooling for (Christ alone), and how we can do all that from a state of rest (Yes! It is possible with God).

So, every morning I seek Him. Every morning I surrender my plans, my agenda, my "to do" list to Him. Some days I cross off items on my list, some days (actually many days), I don't. Many days there are distractions and that's OK. I'm resting in His plan. His direction. 

So, we are back to home once again. Embarking on a new year of learning, growing and seeking. I know we'll have set backs and troubles along the way but with and through Christ we are going to have the best "Back to Home" year yet!

I wish you all the best on your Back to Home journeys! And, if you would like to start your own Back to Home educational journey, there are a ton of resources on my Database of Resources page to help get you started. It's the most rewarding, challenging and beneficial journey you'll ever take! 

Home School Benefits - Sharing My Faith

Even though sharing and teaching my faith with my children wasn't my main reason for homeschooling when we started, it sure has become my main reason for keeping them home. 

I'm thrilled with so many resources that incorporate Biblical truths into our studies - everything from our math to our history to our science curriculum and more. It was so refreshing when we were studying ancient Egypt history that the stories from the Bible were included (like Moses leading the people out of Egypt). 

I attended public school and growing up it seemed to me that I had two different sides of myself - the one at school and the one at home/church. Not that I led two completely different lives, mind you, but I learned the Bible at church and all the other subjects at school. Never did the two worlds truly meet. How sad.

Now I feel like I can share with my children the wonders all around them and discuss together how all subjects are created by our Creator God. I feel like we can live it out and talk about God in all areas of our life and learning.

I love the scripture verses from Deuteronomy 6:6-8 that say, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up."

And, being at home with the kids, we do just that. The hours of time that I can "impress them on my children" at home is invaluable. I just think of the many hours of time that would be lost if they were away every day, all day at any other school. What a blessing to have them home so I can share my faith and beliefs with them - 24/7!

Happy homeschooling,
Christi