As a Christian Homeschooling mom of three precious girls, I desire to be obedient to the Lord's calling not only for my life but for the lives of my girls.
Now heading into our second homeschooling year, I know that in my heart I am being obedient to His call and I most definitely will not turn back. Have I been tempted to just drop everything and send them off to school whether private or public? Oh yes. And in more ways than one. But then again at the same time, I wouldn't trade homeschooling for anything else. Sure, it can be a major challenge some days and other days it can be very rewarding. God prunes and shapes us in every single one of our callings to be sure that we do hear his voice and that we are willing to be obedient. I thank you Lord that I have passed this test. Did I pass with flying colors? I would say not with flying colors, but God knows our hearts and will continue to test them.
With a new homeschool year ahead, I renewed my membership with HSLDA, ordered our curriculum, and enrolled in our co-op classes. At this point in time I thought we were set until I attended a meeting through Homeschooling Connections.
Okay, let me rewind our homeschool journey a bit. Just before the Lord showed me I was to homeschool with a Christian curriculum, I enrolled Lyssa and Kelly in Michigan Virtual Charter Academy and Connections Academy. Both online public schooling. I felt the go ahead and peace about it until I learned and realized that if I wanted the ways of the public school system, I might as well just put them back into the public schools. This was the advice of amazing homeschool moms at Ward Homeschool Fellowship. Within days I decided to pull them off the waiting list. Shortly after that they were still accepted. Did I want to do this? The truth is, to do online public schooling you still have to follow that of a public school system according to your state rules and laws. As a new homeschooling mom I most definitely wanted the flexibility of homeschooling without a system breathing down my neck. So, it made sense that this wasn't the route that was expected of me. The Lord above showed me very clearly and put me back on track. Thank you Lord for directing my steps.
Okay, back to present day. Last Thursday, June 21st, I attended an amazing meeting through Homeschool Connections. An online virtual academy has now partnered with Homeschool Connections providing wonderful opportunities as traditional schoolers but with homeschooling flexibility, free homeschooling classes etc. When I received the email update about this opportunity by a absolutely wonderful lady, Tarla Gernert, I was skeptical and figured there would be a catch. What? I have to sign up for online public schooling to get free homeschool classes? Does this even make any sense? Isn't this against what homeschoolers are? Wasn't I steered away from this? Haha, well the meeting weighed on my heart and the words and testimony of how Tarla partnered with OVA (Oxford Virtual Academy) was beyond a blessing. I am not sure if I will be going this route this year or not, but I do feel this is another direction I will be heading as a homeschooler. One of the amazing partnership opportunities is college programs for homeschoolers, etc. OVA is unique and not like any other state online school. They offer flexibility which is perfect for the homeschooler. There will be another meeting coming up that I think I will be attending to get my questions answered and wait to receive confirmation in my heart and spirit. I so wanted to just toss this whole idea, but now this time, God is showing me something different! Thank you Lord for giving me the desires of my heart.
So with all of that said as a homeschooling mom, I desire to be obedient and not knock down every opportunity that comes my way. Another awesome thing about this is, I currently blog and write for a truly awesome woman that happens to be good friends with the Homeschool Connections Director. How amazing is that? God is truly leading me where I need to go and I am beyond thrilled and ecstatic!
Have a blessed week!
Lindsey
Blessed to be a wife and mom
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