It's been TOO long since I last posted on this blog. It took me quite a while to find a home school groove that worked perfectly for my adorable little family but once I did, I have been loving homeschooling even more!!
As the new school year begins, I find myself preparing for the upcoming year! This year we are trying something new, which my kids are really excited about! I have formed a little home school group that will meet twice a week in 2 hr blocks. I have nick-named it "Our Little Academy" do differentiate it from the non-group days.
It's amazing how the Lord will lead us when we are asking for his guidance...and even when we aren't asking for it in one particular area. Like I stated above, I had got our home school into a wonderful groove that worked perfectly for our family, so I hadn't been inquiring about how to go about this school year. I assumed it would be the same as the last. Then one day while I was at Tae Kwon Do with Gabe, I got to talking with one of the other mothers. It turned out that she was LDS as well, AND a home school mother. Her name was Sheri. As soon as Sheri figured out that I home schooled, she asked if I'd like to be a part of a home school group that she was organizing.
At first, I wasn't sure how to answer because I was completely satisfied with how I had things set up but the thought of having a friend to do it with was definitely appealing. Now Sheri is very...ummmm..."exuberant" when it comes to homeschooling and since I'm a bit of a controller, I cautiously took a step back and didn't jump in head first with a commitment. After our 2 hr conversation, I told her I would definitely consider it but that I'd need to pray about it first.
Over the next couple of weeks, I did a lot of praying. I spoke with Sheri a couple more times. Each time the thought of a group to meet with felt right, very right, but meeting with her, did not feel right. One night, I prayed fervently for an answer about what to do. When I woke up in the morning I had my answer. I went straight to Facebook and asked anyone if they'd be interested in starting a little homeschool group with me. I was so so happy when two ladies from my ward accepted the invitation.
At our first meeting we came up with the topics for each week and who would be teaching each topic...they're going to be like miniature unit studies. We had monthly service projects, library trips and monthly field trips scheduled..."Our Little Academy" was born!
As I began preparing my topics I couldn't help but get really excited about sharing them with the kids. I found a rekindled interest for Pinterest, Oriental Trading, our local libraries and Amazon! Yes, homeschooling is more expensive than public schooling BUT I think it's totally worth it! These are my kids we're talking about...their minds, their futures, their education! In my eyes, they deserve it. They truly are my miracles and I'm thankful I can treat them as such :)
Now, the home school situation didn't work out with Sheri and I but I know for a fact that my loving Heavenly Father brought her into my life to open a new door for me. Not only did she open my eyes to a home school group but she turned me onto Konos, which is an amazing Christian based home school curriculum that works wonderfully with TJEd.
This past month has been truly enjoyable as I've prepared for Our Little Academy, along with preparing Konos for our non-group days. I'm so thrilled to be a part of the home school community and I'm so thankful that I've recognized my ability to educate my children.
The Adversary tried to tell me that I wasn't "qualified" to teach my children, that I didn't have enough "time" to teach my children, and that my kids would struggle "socially" if I removed them from public schooling. OH, HOW SATAN LIES and OH, HOW SO MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE HIM!! I'm just so grateful I don't listen to him and that I don't allow him to discourage me. This is my calling in life and as long as the Lord tells me to keep my precious miracles in my home, I will.
Can I say for certain I'll always home school, no I cannot. Who knows where the Lord will guide me next year, next month, next week? All I know is that this is where He wants me now and this is what He's asking of me. The verse "I know not, save the Lord commands me" comes to mind. I humbly do what the Lord asks of me...."I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord, over mountain or plan or sea, I'll say what you want me to say, dear Lord, I'll be what you want me to be!"
Since this is a new milestone in our home school journey, I'm hoping to share it with those who are interested. Maybe, somewhere along the way, Our Little Academy will be more than three families...we'll just have to wait and see!!
Here's to a wonderful, exciting new school year!!!
Celeste <3
Here's the link to Konos if anyone else is interested. It's a Christian-based, character building, multi-leveled curriculum that uses unit studies for fun learning activities and it works wonderfully with TJEd. The curriculum books are pricey so I got mine used off of eBay, though I did purchase the timeline new from their site. Questions? Feel free to ask!
