Why am I Thankful ~ Homeschool Crew Blog Hop

Welcome to Day 4 of the 5 Days Back to Homeschool Encouragement Blog Hop!

Homeschooling has been one of the hardest and challenging things I think I have ever done. Even more so then going through law school. BUT, I wouldn't change it at all. I am so thankful that I have the opportunity to freely homeschool our children, to rear them in the ways of the Lord, and to help them find their own passions and calling in the Lord to bring HIM glory.

It's blurry, but it's US!

I am thankful for having family who truly support us in our homeschool endeavors. Both parents on either side were probably a bit skeptical when we first announced over 14 years ago that we would not be sending our children to traditional school, but that instead I would be staying home to teach them and train them and school them. And granted, it might seem weird to leave a well paying career to stay at home, but at the time I/we saw eye to eye and knew this was the right choice. Most of the time they refrained from talking badly about our choice to homeschool. But with MANY of them having been educators (high school and college) they did have some leriness.  Now we can skip forward a decade or more and ALL of them have no doubt that homeschooling WAS the right choice.

I am thankful that we have freedoms to school how we feel called. We don't use a boxed curriculum, which in my mind would have completely and utterly been no different than traditional school and would have crushed at least one of my children. We have the opportunity to take off when dad is off from school. We can go on field trips several times a month versus 1 to 2 a year. We've been able to investigate and linger on topics or people or whatever and explore all there is about Egypt or chocolate or pizza.

Cooking for Thanksgiving ... learning to serve.

Slime = chemistry

Field trip to Charlotte because we could.

I am thankful for the many memories we have made because we are together ALL the time. And that is truly a blessing. Yes, there are fights -- we are all human. Yes, we can get on one another's nerve. Yes, even mom and dad may have to learn something new. But really, that's the best part. Learning with your children. Being the one who teaches them to read and see the SPARK that will last a lifetime. Driving in a car together when a lightbulb goes off and they realize that the audio story you are listening to reminds them of a history lesson you learned a few months back. Creating science experiments that turn into a fun hobby of making slime and exploring all the chemical nuances between the different substances you use. Being able to attend classes with your family of teachers just because you have an interest, but you find out along the way you really GET this and maybe this is what you want to study more.

Horseback riding lesson on a weekday morning.

Reading to dad.

Watching her and all of them become who GOD is calling them to be.

Most of all, I am thankful for my husband. Without him and his hard work and dedication we couldn't homeschool. I am thankful for all the long hours and then coming home and teaching more math because all of them want him to teach their math (he is a math professor, so it does make the most sense.) I am thankful for his support and listening to my plans and lists and murmurings.

I am thankful for it ALL, the good and the bad, the tears and the joy, the excitement and the dread. I love being a mom. I love being their teacher. I love homeschooling.

Here are some other participants in this weeks blog hop!

Margaret @ Creative Madness Mama 
Marla @ Jump Into Genius
Meredith @ Powerline Productions: Being World Changers/Raising World Changers 
Dawn @ Schoolin' Swag
Debra @ Footprints in the Butter
Diana @ Homeschool Review
Felicia @ Homeschool 4 Life
Michele @ Family, Faith and Fridays
Missica @ Through The Open Window
Monique @ Mountain of Grace Homeschooling
Nicole @ Bless Their Hearts Mom
Patti @ Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy