Mission Possible

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." -Hebrews 11:6

Have you been weighing the pros and cons of homeschooling and trying to decide what to do this year for your children's education? Although the idea of schooling your children at home seems like a daunting task, you can successfully teach them. Planning schedules, purchasing curriculum and making lesson plans may sound foreign to you right now, but God will help you if you will simply pray and ask for his leading. Not only will he send the encouragement and support you need from homeschooling families, he'll also show you where to get the ideas, resources and supplies you need to complete the task.

Abraham's servant in Genesis 24 also knew about facing a huge undertaking. Under oath, he was sent out by his master, Abraham, to search for the perfect wife for Abraham's son Isaac. Just imagine that task - trying to find a woman who would be willing to return with a complete stranger from a foreign land to marry a man she had never met. In today's world, that would be considered "mission impossible"! Abraham's servant was no fool and knew the obstacles facing him. Knowing he could never succeed without God's divine intervention, he prayed for success and started out in faith on the long journey. Fortunately, his mission had a happy ending when Rebekah proved to be the answer to his prayers and just the woman for Isaac.

God is waiting to give you success in homeschooling, too, but you must first obey his call and step out in faith. Even if you don't immediately receive the answer to every homeschooling question you have right now, God will prove mighty and guide you each day, one step at a time. As you see the Lord's divine leading and specific answer to prayer, you'll praise God like Abraham's servant. Most of all, you'll be thankful you didn't allow your doubts to cause you to self-destruct before experiencing homeschoooling's many blessings.


-Taken from Homeschool Mom's Bible; devotions by Janet Tatman; p. 846

Frog Disection

Ellie and her friends had the opportunity to do a frog disection. Another mom was able to borrow the supplies from her husband's school district and she ordered the frogs online for us. She took the girls through the disection. They found it very interesting and had fun too!

Worship and Church Service

One of Ellie's gifts is leading worship. She does this at church each Sunday for children's ministry and has had the opportunity to do it for Friday School Chapel with our homeschool group.

Friday school Chapel with one of her close friends

Sunday morning at church

Friday school Chapel again

Josh also has a ministry. He was asked to give an object lesson for the 1st through 3rd graders before they go in for their teaching. The object lesson is put together by a couple of ladies and emailed to us the week before. All the kids know him as "Teacher Josh." He was even recognized by a girl at Legoland who we found out is part of our homeschool group as well! Small world!

Thankful the kids have found a way to serve.

Ellie Enrolls at WCHS

Ellie will be a freshman in high school next year. We have decided that she will attend Western Christian High School part time. By taking two classes on campus she will have the opportunity to be involved in sports, plays, clubs, etc. 

The day we went for her interview, her name was on the screen to welcome her on campus. 

She signed her name on a banner declaring her enrolled in the school! 

We are excited to see how the Lord will use this experience in her life.

Natural History Museum February 2017

In February we took advantage of a Homeschool Day at the Natural History Museum in Los Angeles. We enjoyed the day with friends and checking out the "Becoming L.A." exhibit we hadn't seen before. 

Hall of Dinosaurs

Gems and Minerals

Discovery Center

Becoming L.A. Exhibit

One Day at a Time

"Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 

-1 Corinthians 15:58

As a homeschooling parent, do you ever wake up in the morning and want to run away and hide from your responsibilities? Last night's dishes, last week's laundry, and yesterday's school work all clamor for your attention. Your baby's cry reminds you of yet another need, and your young toddlers seek your affection and time for play. On top of that, your church is having difficulty finding help with Sunday school and the nursery, and you know you should offer your assistance. Exhausted before the day has even begun, you throw the covers back over your head and think, "Why would God give me all this responsibility? Doesn't He know I can't take care of everything? Where can I go to get away from all this work?"

When the pressure of obeying God's call seems too much or our rebellious nature takes over, it's tempting to look for the easy way out. Just ask Jonah. God had given him the task of prophesying to the wicked city of Nineveh, but Jonah disobeyed God. Hopping aboard a boat to Joppa, Jonah worked just as hard at running away and hiding from God's call as he would have worked if he had obeyed. Fortunately, God gave this reluctant prophet another chance to accept the job he had given. After being thrown overboard and spending three days in the belly of a big fish, Jonah decided that obeying God wasn't that bad, even if it was for a wicked city like Nineveh.

If the responsibility of facing another year of homeschooling is causing you to run and hide, be encouraged. Although you can't see the way through the work right now, the Lord promises to uphold you with His wisdom and strength when you need them (see Isaiah 41:10). As you obediently follow His will in homeschooling today, He continues to guide yo with the next step tomorrow. Step by step, day by day, you will get through the work and accomplish all He has planned for your homeschooling family. "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you" (Psalm 32:8).

-Taken from Homeschool Mom's Bible; devotions by Janet Tatman; p. 812

Fueling the Flame

Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. -Psalm 51:12

Sadly, sometimes homeschool parents' passion for teaching their child begins to fade. The daily demands of caring for a household and the intense effort required in homeschooling drain even the most dedicated parent. When the homeschooling fire begins to die out, many may choose a halfhearted approach or adapt a martyr, make-it-through-the day mentality. Others may stop homeschooling altogether and send their child back into a traditional school setting. The wise homeschooling parent, however, will see the coals growing dim and find the fuel necessary to rekindle the flame of passion first given by God. But how does one go about finding that fuel?

Photo Credit

To reignite the vision of their child's education, the best thing worn-out homeschooling parents can do is ask the Holy Spirit to come and control their life anew. As parents deal with their own personal walk before the Lord, the time spent in self-examination and repentance will show areas in our character that need strengthening. Prideful attitudes are adjusted and total dependence on God's guidance is reestablished, allowing Him the right to reign over the entire homeschooling process. Most of all, the Holy Spirit is able to clearly reveal Satan's discouragement and remind us what was happening when the passion was last burning brightly.

Have trials and discouragement stolen your first love of homeschooling? "Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them." (1 Timothy 4:15-16).
The fiery conviction you once felt for your child's education will die if you don't find the right fuel source to keep it on fire. Stay faithful to the call God has given and let the Holy Spirit lead and strengthen you today. As you read your Bible, memorize God's Word and pray for the Holy Spirit's wisdom, you'll be amazed as God provides everything you need to keep the home fires burning.

-Taken from Homeschool Mom's Bible; devotions by Janet Tatman; p. 746