Five years later, and how our homeschool has changed.

The other day, Facebook reminded me that we started this incredible, crazy adventure of homeschooling five years ago!

It has been in some ways just like I thought, and in other ways, not at all how I imagined.

We have run the gambit of curriculum, field trips, school styles, children styles, ups and down, but in the end, I'm thankful for what we are doing as a family. 

When I first had Samuel, I knew I would want to home school.  Convincing my husband, however, was another story.  We started doing this because I was bored with a toddler and he LOVED to learn!  We figured we would do our own free/library/printable curriculum and just get him through the preschool phase until he went to a good school.  What started off as a way for me to structure our day a little bit, because a new love of teaching and learning.

I have gone through my doubts, trepidation, and changes over the years.  At times Samuel went to private school part time and homeschooled part time.  At times they were 100% homeschooled.  At times we were homeschooling other families with us.  At times we were 100% private school (but I was still their teacher thankfully), and now we are back to 100% at home, with lots of other activities and trips.

I have tried my run with curriculum I grew up with, and some I loved, some I didn't.  I have found styles that suit our children and family at different stages, and I'm thankful for our flexibility to change as we need to as a family and do what is best for our children in their various phases of life.

I could post all day about why I love My Fathers World, why we switched to Master books, why I don't push handwriting classes, why we do co op at times and not at others, etc, etc, etc.


This is all to say that the reason we home school is because our family is constantly changing and evolving, and in the long and short of it I've learned a few gems.

1) Be willing to change and grow as your family needs it. 

We do not stay the same as moms, our children do not stay the same as people.  The ability to adapt to what we need and what they need is one of the many blessings of homeschooling.

2) Find your encouragement! 

There will be the naysayers, the hard seasons, and the times you want to ship them off to school so you can clean your house and rest for a week.  Remember that although it is physically and mentally draining, it is a season.  Remember WHY you started homeschooling.  Remember the precious memories with your family.  Find those other moms who love, encourage, and lift you up with Bible, hugs, and smiles when you feel you can't keep going.

3) Teach to your child and don't sweat the small stuff.

I have three very unique boys, and what works for one doesn't work for them all.  Don't stress when one was reading at three and one is still not caring at all at 5.  Don't stress when one is a book worm and one hates even the simplest book.  Remember that they have different personalities, and in the end the love, grace, and compassion you have with your children with teach them way more than any curriculum will.

4) Keep GOD the focus and the rest will follow.

Although last, this is by far the most important.  I learned to quit stressed every thing academic (even though we still think they are very important) and teach our children about God, and keep the Bible our focus.  This teaches more than anything else can. 

5) In the end, your kids will grow up, and it will be okay.

Mom, remember that during this long, painful, and sometimes exhausting time of life, you are raising the next generation of daddies, mommies, men and women.  Sometimes you just need to embrace the hugs, the messy papers, and the moments where they finally "get it" with their math!  At the end teach what you can, but if they aren't the next spelling bee champion, or even if they are, that's not what's important. 

We home school so we can instill and teach Godly character into a generation that is greatly lacking.  Pray, love, and rely on God, and in the end it will be okay.

Here are some sweet memories (out of my thousands!!) of our homeschooling over the years.

Music Love, Teaching, and Learning. BEST job ever!!

I've had lots of jobs.. Lots.  Bookstore, Clothing Stores, Army, CNA, etc, etc, etc.

Outside of being a mom (and a homeschool mom) I LOVE being a music teacher!!

I've been a "real" teacher, and I've learned a LOT about why I love teaching music.

Music teaching brings out a love and energy from kids you don't get anywhere else.  It teaches kids to work consistently for something and that they CAN do it!

I could go all day and tell you how music can improve their memory, help with concentration, improves their academics, creates self discipline, etc.  BUT nothing I say can show you what I see in the studio and homes of my students.



I see confidence build.  I see kids get excited over their success and achievements.  I see kids find the joy and spark in what they are learning.

Being a music teacher is one of the greatest things I can do.  It's not about my ability to perform music, but I am grateful for the fact I get to help encourage and nourish the creativity in children.  I'm not going to find the next Mozart, but I can teach a shy girl that she can be successful.  I can help an autistic child express their emotions.  I can help an ADHD child focus and concentrate in an area they can succeed in.  I see the toddlers burst with energy!

There is so much that music does.  Music is the heartbeat of life.  Music connects people across languages, cultures, and ability.  I am forever thankful that I get to share my passion and joy with others.  It's my small way of adding a little bit of color and happiness to other people's lives.

There is no greater joy than to see my children serving God.  But teaching music and creating that joy comes a pretty close second.

Music is how I am able to serve in ministry, it's how my husband and I are able to work together.  Music is how I deal with depression.  Music is how I express my extreme happiness!



Thank you to those that let me share my joy with you and your families.

The face of depression, and the side you don't see.

Do you know what you don't see??  Depression.

See my smiling face?  See how happy my social media is?  See how many awesome friends I have?  See how cute my makeup is?

This is what depression looks like.

What you don't see is when the pain is so bad I can't get out of bed.

What you don't see is when my depression overtakes me and I cry for hours

What you don't see is when my anxiety takes over.

Now, this is not about just me or a "pity me" post.  This is a reminder that not everyone "looks" depressed.  That mom with her new baby?  She might be struggling with Post Pardum that you don't know.

See that mom without a baby?  She's had two miscarriages and you ask her why she doesn't have a family yet.

See that smiling couple?  They are struggling and hurting.

Yes, I'm thankful for my friends.  I have an amazing family, and amazing job, and an amazing homeschooling life.  

But there is a lot that still hits me on my bad days.

Depression does not define me, but it still hurts.   It's a permanent part of my life due to the chemical and hormonal imbalance I struggle with. (and the multiple traumas at this point)  It's a daily and life long balance of mental and physical health for the rest of my life.  

But the days you don't hear from me?  It's probably because I"m too exhausted to keep checking on everyone else.  The days I smile but look empty?  It's because I'm too worn to keep going that day.

I've written other blogs on how I cope with depression, and yes, I still do those things.  No, this is not a cry for help or concern.

Sometimes it's just a good reminder that others are hurting.  

The person that is always reaching out to you might just need someone to reach out back to her.  

Check on your strong friends, for very often they are there for others, and people forget to check on them.

When you are struggling remember:

Still GET UP every day.  Even when it hurts

You DO matter to others

Take care of yourself.

Hiding out with chocolate and Netflix is ok but don't forget to take a shower too at some point.

Traveling with my kids and why I find it so important!

Traveling with my kids is something I've found more important as they grow older.

Some of the best memories I have with my family is our long road trips.  In our old travel van in hot summers and looking out the windows seeing what there was to see.

For me it was the best because I had two weeks with my parents and we got to explore and learn new things.  Now, for my kids, I'm sure they won't look back with the same memories I did, but this is not for them, it's for me.

I am forever grateful for my memories with my parents growing up, and I'm thankful for creating new memories with my kids.  Some trips are like our CA trip where we did Grand Canyon and Yosemite and Disneyland, but others are like our NY trip this last month.

This trip was more about seeing family, experiencing snow, and getting family time together.

These trips do many things:

1) It unplugs us from our normal commitments and schedules.

It's so easy to get caught up in the every day chores, commitments, and sometimes drudgery of life.  Getting away with no dishes, no school, and no daily commitments can be a good way to just reset and unplug as a family.

2) Learn about other areas and cultures.

Even though we stay in the US (for now anyway) our kids have met people from all walks and styles of life.  They have spoken with people all around the world and have heard their stories.  It also lets them try food and styles from other parts of the United States.  This last trip, they got to fully enjoy the SNOW.  For these Texas kids, that was a major life event.  It let them understand why some people have different references for Winter than we do.  It gave them a perspective that did not previously have.

3) Gives us family time

Granted, we get a LOT of family time with homeschooling and being with our kids 24/7, but it's different when we travel.  We talk about what we are traveling to, thinking about, or learning about every day instead of getting caught up in the day-to-day of regular life.  We learn to live with a lot less for periods of time.  Less stuff, and more time.

When you are in close quarters for any length of time... you really get to bond.  There is no hiding out.

4) It gives us memories.

Yes, we all have memories as children, but I love that the most memorable ones are the things we do outside our normal lives.  I pray that my kids look back on these adventures and learn to find the adventure in their lives too when they some day become parents.  I want them to seek adventure and cherish family.


I'm thankful for the life that my husband and I have and that we are able to travel and do things we wouldn't typically be able to do.  It doesn't come without a lot of hardship in other areas, but I'm very thankful for the good and the breaks we get in between.