Why we homeschool

During my last seven years of homeschooling I have been fortunate enough not to encounter any major discouragement from non-homeschoolers. Most people are interested when they find out, and many ask questions out of genuine curiosity. I always enjoy talking about homeschooling, and it doesn't at all offend me when people want to know why or how we do it.

Ninjaschool homeschool

Giving him back to the Lord

This past Sunday we had the honor of dedicating our newest son, Asa Locke, to the Lord.

Baby dedication is a ceremony in which Christian parents make a public commitment to raise their child according to God's Word. It's not infant baptism or christening. It's a promise.

In dedicating Asa - just as we dedicated his brother - we make a promise to the Lord to do our best to prayerfully raise him in a godly way - in the ways of God, and not our own ways. Practically speaking, our responsibilities include teaching and training our children in God's Word, demonstrating an example of godliness, disciplining according to God's ways, and praying earnestly for them.

We were honored to have Pastor Richard Christen lead the ceremony. Pastor Christen will retire next month, and we feel so blessed that he was able to do this for us before he and his wife leave the island.

"As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD." 1 Samuel 1:26-28

Am I trying to be Super Mom or an Abiding Mom?

I recently came upon this comparison chart in a homeschooling magazine and found it encouraging as well as convicting. I clipped it out and it now hangs on my refrigerator door to remind me of God's truths every time I walk past.

Priorities

I've been reading a really great book by Elizabeth George, one of my favorite Christian writers. It's called A Woman After God's Own Heart, and boy, have I been convicted of many things while reading it. The biggest thing was the lack of a regular quiet time in my life. Sure, I always had my Sunday school lesson prepared, and I kept my Bible by my bed and opened it maybe twice a week, but that was it. And despite my involvement at church, my own studying, and my regular fellowship with other Christians, I realized something - I was hungry.

So, I began making it my priority to schedule quiet time in my day. Ideally I would like to get up an hour earlier in the morning to do my Bible reading, but that just doesn't work for me. I would genuinely love for this to happen, but it simply doesn't - and the result is I go all day without having my QT at all if I miss it first thing in the morning.

Instead, I schedule it mid-afternoon. Asher goes into his room for his Alone Time, and I have my own Alone Time with God. It lasts usually about an hour, though it varies depending on the amount of passages I'm reading that day. I'm using a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year type of guide, and it's really helpful. Lately I've been doing one OT reading and then one NT reading. I read the blurb in the guide book, then read my study Bible with the commentary. I write down notes in a notebook about anything that jumps out at me, and I highlight meaningful passages. I can't believe how much I've gotten out of what I've read so far - stories I've known since childhood and yet every time I read them, something new jumps out at me. I love this. God's Word is truly eternal.

The difference in my life since making QT a regular thing is practically measurable. I look forward to this time alone with God. By that time of the day, I'm tired from the morning and early-afternoon activities. Reading my Bible and praying are refreshing. And they help get me through the rest of the day.

Another reason I enjoy my QT during the day is that I know Asher is aware of it. I want him to see me make time for God, to see it's a priority in our house. I want him to know God is real not only at Sunday school, but in Mommy's life. Some days he'll stick his head out his door and call out, "Mommy, are you and God done yet?"

Conversely, it's really easy to get out of this habit. When I miss one day, I struggle to get back into my Bible-reading routine again. But when I make time for it each day, I feel different. I am at peace. I'm more patient. I'm happier. I'm content. Why have I been neglecting this integral part of my life all this time when the benefits are so great? I just pray I can continue this way.