BFS Assignment #100 - Oh What a Feeling!

Assignment: Take time this week to write about YOU and your feelings of trials and triumphs with homeschooling. Touch on when you first heard about the concept of home schooling and whether you tip-toed into the idea or just jumped in and never looked back. Share your schooling as a child and how you compare it to what your goals are for your children.

I first heard of homeschooling a while back when it was not very popular. A few families in our church homeschooled their children, and although I never really thought about doing it at the time, I was always impressed with the way their children presented themselves, and how bright they were. They reached out to people of all ages and they were very much a part of their family, unlike many other kids their age. I wanted my children to be like that one day. The first time I thought seriously about homeschooling was when we were thinking of enrolling our oldest child in a local Christian school. We prayed about it, but neither my husband or I felt God's peace. One day I approached him and told him that I would like to consider homeschooling and to my surprise, he was all excited about it. We instantly felt God's peace and knew that this was what we were supposed to do. Not a day has gone by where I've regretted our decision. It's the best choice we made and we are thankful for the freedom to homeschool!!!

As for my schooling as a child...what a joke! The public school system where I lived was awful, and it was supposed to be one of the best in the area! Every class was dumbed down, so there was no real challenge. I graduated, but I quickly forgot about what I 'learned'. When I went to college, it was like running into a brick wall. Public school did not prepare me for what lie ahead, so my first year or so in college was extremely difficult for me. Fortunately I did learn how to study, and I graduated with honors. I am learning things all over again with my children though, and I'm loving every minute of it. I feel like for the first time, I'm also understanding things I never did the first time around.

What is the main goal I have for my children? I want them to love learning. I want them to feel that school can be fun, and yet is something to be valued. I want them to love reading, to explore the world around them, and to do it with a heart that is totally dependant and centered around the Lord. If they graduate with those goals met, I'll know that I did my best! In the mean time, I will continue to be on my knees in prayer for them often!

Phil. 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."