A historical perspective: One of the reasons I home school

It is that time of year again... It's time to go back to school...

During this time of the year we find ourselves answering lots of questions about where we go to school and when our school starts... these questions come from friends, who know we home school and are curious about how we do what we do, and the cashiers at Target who are simply making conversation as we checkout... The question hangs there for a few moments... And then... the answer comes, "Actually I am home schooled...."  This is usually met with two responses...

One response goes something like this, "Oh, wow!" Then they look at me and say, "Wow!" "You have got your hands full!"  The second response usually goes down like this, "Really?"  "I have a sister-in-law that home schools.  Good for you!"

So as everyone goes back to school, I find myself in conversation and processing again why we continue to home school and what keeps us educating all of our kids at home...

We have many, many reasons we started to home school and we continue to home school...  But as I was visiting with a friend last night... I realized one reason I home school is because I love to teach my children!

I think as parents we have a natural, God-given desire to teach our children.  It begins when we bring them home from the hospital.  We teach them how to sleep through the night. We teach our children to walk and talk.  We teach our kids to go to the potty. We teach our children how to ride a bike and then we teach them how to drive.  We teach our children how to make bread and how to cook and how to take out the trash and mow the grass.  Many of us also teach our children hobbies too... how to play golf, how to throw a football, how to play the piano... I believe all of us are teachers... and most parents  desire to teach our children important truths... and life skills... hobbies... we desire to pass along our wisdom and knowledge and experiences...  Most of us love seeing our children learn something new... we love seeing them excel in an area... it is a natural thing...

Like you, I have enjoyed teaching my children different things as they have moved through the different life stages...  But, I also have the desire to go further in the education of my children. I want to teach my children how to do chores, but I also I desire to teach my children handwriting, how to read, literature, the arts, scientific truths, grammar, history, geography, music appreciation, foreign language, mathematics... I love it all!

When our country was young... home schooling was the way you were educated.  Most of our founding fathers were educated at home.  As more people came and settled our country, schools started in communities... and if your child was not needed on the farm or needed to help out the family in some other capacity... you were allowed to go to a community school...

However, at some point, in the history of education, the state decided to get involved in the education process.  And then, through the course of time, our country began to look to the state to educate  children in academic subjects... People started believing they couldn't educate their children in all the different areas of life as they had for many years... and they started to believe that only certified teachers were qualified to do this... and in general, parents took a giant step away from the education of their children...

As "back to school season" rolls around again, and children everywhere are sent to school to be educated, it makes me grateful I was introduced to the concept of  home education.  I am thankful our country allows the freedom to choose... I am mindful of places in this world where the state runs everything...  I am thankful to live in a land where the government has not taken this choice away.  I sort of of feel like I am walking in the footsteps of our founding fathers... But beyond all that, I am grateful.... Because, quite simply, I love it!

The Merry Ol' Month of May

Whew!  Can you hear that?  That was a loud and very definite sigh.  I am not going to lie... I am a little relieved the month of May is coming to an end...


As I look back on the last month, it was pretty much a whirlwind. It was chocked full of birthday parties, banquet dinners, graduation parties, field days, planning meetings, field trips, garage sales, showers, more birthday parties, more graduation parties, more birthday parties... I start to get overwhelmed just looking back at my Daytimer.  And yes, I still have a Daytimer.  And I use it.  And I am not afraid to admit it.

Celebrating Garett!

Perhaps it is because of this season of life, but the last few years, May has been a non-stop flurry of activity.  It is almost like being on the tilt-a-whirl at a carnival.  You are enjoying it, but it seems like everything is spinning and even though it is thrilling, you are so ready to get off the ride!  


It seems when the kids were smaller, May was a more laid back month.  We went to the River Festival, we celebrated Mother's Day, we spent time outside enjoying the Spring, we planted flowers.   But not so much now... 


To be sure, I love all the fun and the blessings and connections with friends and family the merry ol' month of May brings.  But, I will have to admit, I am ready to settle into a summer schedule that is a "little" more laid back.  And Memorial Day seems to usher in that slower pace... days at the pool, trips to Sonic, family vacations... I know I am ready.

Leap Day 2012

So, I had thought it would be cool to do something special today. Something memorable. Something to remember... as a way to mark a "special" day... Because, after all, you don't experience February 29th too many times in your lifetime.

I was born in a leap year, although after leap day... And now... ahem... a few years later we are at leap year again.... And no, I am not going to share how many leap year's have occurred in between...

Alas, it was a rather ordinary day. I went to the mall. I completed our bi-monthly Sam's Club run, I helped Garett with grammar, and then I got ready for small group tonight. Nothing extraordinary -- most of it rather ordinary and not-so-special.

In retrospect, this blog post may be the way I commemorate a not-so-ordinary day! I hope you had a great Leap Day! Blessings...

When the truth hurts...

One of my new year's resolutions was to read through the bible this year. What a blessing it has been... and what a joy to read the words of life on a daily basis...

Today, I was reading in Psalm 36 and the words really hit me upside the head...

"There is no fear of God...For in his (her) own eyes he (she) flatters himself (herself) too much to detect or hate his (her) sin." Verse 1-2

Wowzers! How true is this verse?

My brother and I were talking about some of these very things this past week...

We were discussing how we focus and work to build "self esteem" in our children, in others, and in ourself. We tell our children they are great and special and perfect and so lovable and kind and pretty and loving... It is pretty much the way we roll in our culture...

And yet, I believe we are flattering ourselves WAY too much. So much so that we are not able to detect or hate the sin in our lives.

Do you really see and hate the sin that is present in your life? Do you really believe you sin? Honestly, it sooooooo hard to see it in yourself, isn't it?

Now others. Now, I see the way they fall short ALL the time. That is easy. It is so obvious. But, myself? Not so much.

Now, don't misunderstand me. I believe in words of encouragement (we are told to encourage one another) and showing kindness and love. So, I am in no way saying we ought to walk around and tell everyone how lame they are... nor am I advocating some sort of negative self-talk...

But, I am suggesting that we all need to take an honest look in the mirror and ask ourselves these tough questions... "Do I really fear the Lord?" Or "Do I flatter myself so much that I am blind to my own sin?"

We are encouraged as believers to "speak the truth in love..." Sometimes, the hardest person to do that with is ourself.

Blank Spaces...

Happy New Year!

I spent this second day of January creating some blank spaces in my house...

The day began by saying goodbye to family, reorganizing the house, doing lots of laundry and putting away all the Christmas decorations.

And I realized while going through these chores, that all of these activities created blank spaces... Spaces where our family had been and enjoyed time together, spaces where all our Christmas decorations had been... blank spaces.

Before all of the family left, I got out my calendar to check on some dates in the summer... and as I looked through it, for the most part the year has lots of "blank" spaces too.

It got me to thinking... I kind of enjoy some blank spaces in my life.

Although, I would not rank January as my favorite month of the year, there is something kind of refreshing about the blank spaces in our lives in January, isn't there?

After all the parties and activities throughout the holidays, it is kind of nice to not have too many plans for the next few weeks. And I don't know about you, but I also like some blank spaces in my home too.

In an ironic way, there is something about blank spaces which create a sense of expectancy... an expectancy of what will come... you know nothing is there now, but you know something will be there eventually, but what will it be?

So, as I look around at some of the blank spaces in my life, I am also looking forward with expectation to this new year and what it will bring!

I love studying history...

One of the great joys of home schooling my children is the opportunity to study history in depth. Sorry, Mr. Groves, but my "early bird" high school history class just didn't cut it for me (we took this class at 6:45 in the morning -- meaning we were asleep through much of the class.)

That class did little to inspire my current love (and passion) for the study of history. But, I am willing to admit it now. I love history. I love history because of what I learn of mankind. I love history because it gives us such an perspective on current life; which is someting that only understanding history can do.

We are currently reading "A History of US" by Joy Hakim. These are some amazing history books. If you love history, you will not be disappointed in reading them...

Tonight, we were reading about the muckrakers of the late 1800's... and how they ushered in a new era in journalism, "investigative journalism."

Anyway, we were learning about a guy named Lincoln Steffans. He has an amazing quote from his book called "The Shame of the Cities" -- which incidentally made him famous...

Here it is...

"The misgovernment of the American people is misgovernment by the American people!"

Completely brilliant and spot on. Well said, Mr. Steffans.

And so, once again, studying history helps me fully realize the realities of my current world. It also reminds me of another great writer, King Solomon, who said, "There is nothing new under the sun." So true.

God is Good...

Recently, I had the opportunity to hear former president George W. Bush speak when he came to Wichita.

He told many stories as he reflected on his past and his experiences as a son, as a business leader and, of course, while he was a president.

One story he shared touched me greatly. I will always remember it.

He shared a story of visiting a village in Africa. He was able to meet with a group of orphans who had lost the parents to the AIDS epidemic. As he was leaving them, he said, “God is good.” And they replied back in unison, “All the time.”

I loved this story because of the truth it tells. God is good. All the time. In times of joy. In times of sorrow. In times of hope. In times of hopelessness. In times of prosperity. In times of want.

Bush shared that even though these orphans had the "right" to be angry and bitter and cynical... they weren't. They praised God in spite of their circumstances.

Bush went on to discuss how different America would be if this would be our motto -- what would we as a nation be like if we would recognize the goodness of God all the time! Wow! It makes you think.

The coolest thing about the evening was when Bush left the stage for the evening, he said "God is Good." And in unison, the audience of 4900+, said back "All the Time."

One of the highlights of my year!