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SHARING the Joys of Homeschool

Published on by Jenny

After journeying through twenty-five years of homeschooling pretty much on our own, I accidentally launched a local support group in 2018. I say this jokingly, but it is true! I never intended to start anything!  It just happened in response to a growing interest in homeschooling locally. I feel like I was simply generating the energy I needed to keep going through encouraging others. One thing led to another and some of us formed a bond around equipping others to do what we were already enjoying.

SHARE Homeschool Support Group is a local community of families who are interested in directing their kids’ education at home.

It has been a great joy to lead this community!  We have a Facebook group for sharing info like local activities & favorite study helps. Members encourage each other and we try to meet regularly for field trips and workshops. There is a wide range of learning and teaching styles represented here–no COOKIE CUTTER homeschoolers here! Our group moderators love assisting other moms because we understand that homeschooling comes with so many unique choices and challenges. I have used a variety of materials and have collected many treasured favorites along the way, from traditional textbooks to unit studies and parenting books. I am a listening ear, a voice of encouragement, and a cheerleader! I try to be available, whether it’s tapping into lessons we’ve learned personally, or just being a safe place for moms to share their own hopes and ideas.

I hate to see moms shackled with a sense of guilt or failure when we can make decisions with confidence instead. We know that God has a plan for our lives and families, including choosing how we educate our children. But HOW is a big question right now. “Responsibly” is my answer. Explore your choices and get closer to those who seem to be successfully enjoying what they are doing.

Most parents feel the weight of educating their kids. Do I even need to say it? “It is HARD and it can be confusing!” We know that so much has changed since we grew up and attended school. The homework lessons brought home may look foreign to many parents and it is difficult to navigate subjects that are no longer familiar…all in time to help kids learn and turn in work before the due date!

Still, I understand that homeschooling may NOT be the best choice for every family and so I gladly help moms see other options too.  I love helping moms find peace in parenting and teaching. I’m not an expert and I certainly do NOT have all the answers. Not even close! I am just a friendly voice helping you find your voice and a path that works for your family.

The important thing to remember is that our children are GIFTS from God and we have the privilege and responsibility to care for them in a way that honors their Creator. Then EVERYBODY wins!!

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More tips and resources are COMING SOON!

Prayers Heard and Answered

Published on by Jenny

What do you do when you find out a little girl in Thailand is praying for helpers to come and help Papa Al of Compassionate Hope Foundation? You lean in a little closer to hear how God is going to answer her prayers.

At least that’s what I did…since the only reason I was sitting in Al Henson’s office that day was because my husband was compelled to come and ask how we could help. Coincidence? You can decide for yourself, but we knew God was doing something special. So, I leaned in to listen closely and…

I heard the whisper of my long-ago prayers…summed up in one word.

Please stay with me while two seemingly separate stories unfold the reality of one story. One story. One word. One amazing God.

Over twenty years ago I began learning about a group of people on the other side of the world that experienced horrific abuse simply because they became Christ-followers. Deeply concerned and armed with a map we turned our little kitchen into a prayer room for these persecuted Believers.

We truly believed that God allowed us to know their plight because He wanted us to help.

We had limited financial resources available and a growing family of our own. A teenager and toddlers in the same house! Weeks, months, and even years passed with pitiful little funds to donate and our prayers were becoming weaker. How could we know we were making a difference? Not one clue.

The passing of time left our walls with little fingerprints that no longer washed off. It was time to paint and freshen things up. No indication that our prayers had made a difference. I am sad to say that I folded my map, took down the pictures, and filed it all away in a lonely, defeated place. I didn’t even realize the disappointment that wrapped that part of my heart until I heard the word…

Cream

You see, Cream is my all-time favorite word, and Cream is also the name of the little Thai girl asking God to send helpers to Papa Al. How does a young child on the other side of the world end up with the name of MY favorite word? My husband asked her biological mother about it one afternoon when they met in Thailand. Her reply was a shrug and these simple words through a translator, “I just liked it.”

How did Cream end up on my list of favorite words over twenty years ago? It came through a game I played with my kids. Nothing special. I still shrug these baffling words, “I just liked it.”

I would love to personally share with you this story and many others! Contact us to schedule a time to hear more about how God is moving to answer the prayers of this little girl.

You can help us make a huge impact in Southeast Asia!

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