Home Schooling

I just recently had a conversation with some friends and it was pointed out that I never talk to anyone about homeschooling. Actually I do, it's just with my home school buddies that don't live in my ward or town. They are my "other friends" and never the twain shall meet. So why don't I? Why do I have a second blog where I talk about home schooling but keep that part of my life away from my friends and family? Is it a secret? So in an effort to embarrass my family I shall bare my soul and let you know exactly what I think.

1). I LOVE HOMESCHOOLING MY CHILDREN!!!!! I know that sounds crazy coming from the women who despises babysitting and thinks that each time I'm called into the primary (I'm on my 10th primary calling) God is punishing me for something. I know that's bad, (and I'm working on it), but that's not what this post is about. I love reading on the couch to my children every morning and having them beg me to read more. I love that they love to learn. I love that they think they have the best mom in the world because I home school them. I love it when they come up to me out of the blue and give me a hug and say, "Thanks for home schooling me."

2). I home school my children because God told me to. I know some of you will roll your eyes, but it has been confirmed to me over and over and over again that my children have to be home. I know there's concerns about this and that, but frankly when you are doing what God wants you to do then you don't have to worry because His plan's better than mine.

3). My life revolves around my family and educating them. Every choice Alex and I make we ask two questions, "How will this strengthen their testimony" and "What can they learn from this?" Everything is about learning, growing, gaining, achieving.... Everything we do is prayed over and many times fasted over. Even down to them taking piano lessons, what books to read to them, what movies to let them see or not see and what curriculum to use. Alex and I ask the same questions about ourselves. What can I learn from this? How can this make me a better person? What should I change? What can I model to them to inspire them to do this? (Why do you think I keep performing at all the piano recitals? To inspire them!) Everything we do as a purpose. Why will I let my kids watch Lord of the Rings over and over but not let them see High School Musical? There's a reason....

4). In Doctrine and Covenants 123: 11-14 it says, "And also it is an imperative duty that we owe to all the rising generation and to all the pure in heart....we should waste and wear out our lives in bringing to light all the hidden things of darkness, wherein we know them; and they are truly manifest from heaven-These should then be attended to with great earnestness."

5). I love that Olivia is freed from the yucky feelings that I felt in school and she felt why she was in school. She can focus on developing her talents and not be worried why all the girls in the class have been glaring her down and haven't talked to her in weeks. She doesn't come home crying or mad for hours on end just to get tough enough to deal with it the next day. She has time to sing her beautiful heart out, write music, write poetry, cut out paper dolls, and write reports on freedom-just because.

6). I love that Jared is able to deal with his emotional problems in a stable environment. I love that he can do advanced math, memorize the presidents of the United States and make giant ships out of Lego's.

7). I love that Luke wakes up early and gets on the computer and writes and writes and writes. He spends hours everyday writing and drawing sketches of his characters. Below is today's writing. This is of course similar to Eragon the real book. But the descriptions and usage of words are his alone. It will blow your mind. I've left it exactly as I copied it from his word document. You will see his spelling and grammar errors, but you will see his brilliance. I close for now with my ramblings with his writing:

Eragon knelt down by a reed bed of stamped grass; the tracks told him the deer had been there only a half-hour ago. His target was a doe with a small limp in its right-four foot. He had left Unora to find meet for his family, winter was coming soon and his family could not afford it in Unora. It had taken two days just to get here Eragon thought.

The next day, Eragon followed the doe’s foot print’s, he soon saw a heard of dear and does Eragon crept closer to get a better view, he saw his target, it was at the end of the heard to the left, Eragon knocked an arrow to his bow. He raised his bow and pooled back the string and-an explosion lighted the night Eragon rushed forward feeling a wave of heat. Eragon it the arrow fly it mist by a fingers breath! Eragon spun around knocking another arrow. Eragon spun around were he had let the other arrow go. The heard had ran off.!! Low courses from behind his teeth were beginning to form. And to make things worst of all he lost his best arrow!! Eragon put the arrow back in his quiver. Now that the deer had ran off he would be forced to return empty handed. Plus he was almost out of food.