A Family Education

Five years ago I was sent on a journey by my Heavenly Father. It has been a journey of ups and downs, however, I knew it was a journey that he needed me to go on for my children. The Lord has a mission of great worth for my four future priesthood holders. Austin has joined me on this journey and has been on one of his own as well. (He is an amazing source of strength and wisdom) So, after 5 years of pondering, planning, praying, fasting, studying, gaining courage, and a whole list of other things, our family finally took the plunge and are now Family Educating (home school). I love it. It has become just what it is called, a family education! And most days the boys are enjoying it. Some of them never think of anything else and others think back on how things used to be. It is a process of "unschooling" and feeling that what we are choosing to do is OK-even the right thing! It is such a wonderful feeling each day to sit with my children and mentor them and inspire them and I get to see them learn, be excited, and frustrated. I get to work through the frustrating parts with them right when it happens, and be happy with them when they are doing something new and exciting. I am learning so much with them. It has been a wonderful blessing. I get to give them a great education and at the very same time right along with learning educationally I get to teach them spiritually. So even though now that we my be perceived as quiet strange to the rest of the world, we are happy and have been blessed beyond description for this choice and in this choice. The support of our family and friends means more than you could ever know! To help us along the path of giving our children a leadership great education is not easy and when there are family and friends behind us instead of in front of us...well I think you get the idea!

Here is a picture of Maestin after he finished a model of our solar system.

We actually just got this table this week, it is amazing what a little change will do in kids, they couldn't wait to sit down and work all week!

This was our first day to go to Bridge-Builders Academy. We go every Thursday to Weston to academy. This has been a blessing, as well, and we all love it. There are about 30 kids or seven families!

One day Austin had a great idea to have the kids come out and help him build the chicken coop. What kid in public school gets to learn about measuring, straight lines, dimensions and a whole list of other things by actually doing it. They had fun and learned a lot.

I want to record a couple of great moments that solidified to me that what I am doing is so great.

Christopher Columbus day was coming up and we had been talking about it coloring, and making things. We were reading scriptures and the scripture in first Nephi that talks about a man moved by the power of God to come across to the promised land. It was so great to talk with them about it while reading the scriptures.

Also in the same chapter it talked about the founding fathers, and we are reading a history book about George Washington, and how great he was. I was able to discuss with them that he was inspired and blessed by the lord.

I love watching Addler learning by leaps and bounds- actually watching and mentoring my child in learning to read has been amazing!

"All men who turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.”

—Sir Walter Scott