I'm praying...

 hard.  

I feel pretty vulnerable throwing this out there, but I'm doing it and inviting you to pray with me - for me. 

The idea of Homeschooling has been on my heart and mind for nearly a year.  It creeps in, and I squash in down.  It comes back, and I squash it down again.  Sophie is doing well in the public school.  She is growing and succeeding in school.  She has tons of friends.  She is happy.  She is doing really well -  but I still have this tugging that keeps returning and it won't go away.  There have been a few things go down this year (social influence) - that have added to my fire and conviction.  So, I've decided that I must pray and investigate.  If the desire and conviction is on my heart and mind, would I be disobedient to continue squashing it down?


I was reading today, and I bumped into this?  It touched my heart and aligned with some thoughts on my mind.


Taken from the Indiana Association of Home Educators 
There are many reasons to consider home education, but the most important is to train up our children in the way they should go! (Proverb 22:6)   If you are just beginning to home educate, you are about to embark on one of the most meaningful, worthwhile journeys of your life.  Home educating allows you to build lifelong relationships with your children that you cannot possibly achieve by any other way.  You will be able to instill in them the biblical character and principles that our children so badly need.  The scripture tells us in Deuteronomy 11:19, “And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” The only way to accomplish this is to have them by your side day in and day out!

In a Homeschooling environment, I don't believe my children have to be by my side day in and day out (due to all the resources available), but what an honor to be their MAIN teacher - and because I taught for several years, I believe that children like Sophie don't get a lot of attention in a group on 25 kids because she doesn't require much.  I believe that having me (a certified teacher is simply a bonus) as their main teacher -  teaching a class of 3 - I could have a beautiful impact on my children's lives, morals and social interactions.

But really, the day in and day out is what concerns me most.  When will I have a break?  That is probably my biggest hang up.  Do my other convictions outweigh my selfishness?  They should!  Are there creative ways to still have time to myself?  I think so.  I'm concerned about the logistics - our daily routine - down time - who will help me fill in the gaps?  Because I don't believe I can do it alone - but neither can Sophie's current teacher.  I'm confident in my ability to figure all of that out - there are so many resources available.  I believe in myself.  I will be equipped and fulfilled.  I (and others) could have a beautiful impact on my children.  I believe that whatever we choose, we will do the right thing - because we're intentionally trying to do the right thing.

So, friends... would you encourage me?  Pray for me?  Talk with me?