Do you wonder if you could ever homeschool? Are you feeling called to start homeschooling? Are you needing a reminder of why you do homeschool? This episode is for you! Jen and Steph encourage you why you are a fantastic option for your child's teacher, who really controls their learning, and pitfalls to avoid along the way. This episode is full of encouraging Scripture, so even if you homeschooling isn't your thing, you're sure to be pointed to the Lord in raising your children for Him!

Books Recommended:

Teaching from Rest by Sarah MacKenzie

For the Children's Sake: Foundations of Education by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay

Little Britches by Ralph Moody

Scriptures Referenced:

Deuteronomy 6:6-7

Isaiah 54:10, 13

Psalm 32:8

Isaiah 40:11

Matthew 14:13-21

They're the joyful agains our children

shout on the swings, the exhausting

2

agains of cooking and laundry, and

the difficult agains of discipline.

3

So much of what we do

as mothers is on repeat.

4

So what if we woke up with clarity,

knowing which agains we were called

5

to, and went to bed believing we

are faithful in what matters most?

6

We believe God's word is

the key to untangle from the

7

confusion and overwhelm we feel.

8

Let's look up together to embrace a

motherhood full of freedom and joy.

9

Hi there.

10

Welcome to the again, podcast.

11

I'm your host, Stephanie Hickox.

12

And this is brought to you

by interested ministries.

13

It's February and even the

seasoned homeschoolers.

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No, this month is one of the

hardest months to persevere in.

15

Often the weather is still dreary.

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Everyone's tired of being cooped up

and it's just difficult to be faithful.

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So this episode is speaking

to those of you who need to be

18

reminded of why you have been

called to be your child's teacher.

19

But mostly it's for those of you wondering

and evaluating, could I homeschool?

20

I feel like I want to, I

just don't feel qualified.

21

Jen Frackman joins me in this episode.

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And we're going to share with

you the wisdom we've learned.

23

And also how you can avoid

the mistakes that we've made.

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So that if the Lord is calling you

to homeschool, you can begin and

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an even wiser spot, then we began.

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Even if you're feeling comfortable

and confident in your abilities

27

to teach your children.

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We hope this episode reminds

you of why you've chosen.

29

It gives you some great

book recommendations.

30

And encourages you to finish.

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this year strong.

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Let's get to it.

33

Jen: Okay, so here's a question for you.

34

Throughout your years in school, which

teacher was the most influential and why?

35

Steph: Hey, this one's really easy for me.

36

I had a teacher named Mr.

37

Harris in high school, and he

taught Physical Science Chem,

38

Chem 2, and Physics to me.

39

I was in a really small town, and

so I got to have him for four years.

40

And he was also the yearbook

editor, and I worked.

41

Every weekend, for four

years or something.

42

So we got to know each other really well.

43

And he had the gift of teaching for sure.

44

He was just so clear in his

instruction, but he was hilarious.

45

I think the day that I

learned the Latin names of the

46

elements, I almost wet my pants.

47

I laughed so hard.

48

It was just like, it was so funny.

49

, but he was teaching the material.

50

Yeah.

51

And just doing it in

the most exciting way.

52

And yet he had very Firm guidelines for us

about this is what an equation looks like

53

and when you turn in a test it better be

laid out like this or it will be wrong.

54

And so we rose to the challenge.

55

And at the time I thought that I

was going to be a pre med major and

56

I just really loved all of that.

57

I love chemistry and he was

really inspirational to me.

58

And he didn't share my faith but

he really respected it and we spent

59

a lot of time talking about it.

60

That was really neat for me to

just have someone who differed

61

that was so willing to listen.

62

Jen: Yeah.

63

That's amazing.

64

Steph: yes.

65

And then I had a teacher, Mrs.

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Hanson in elementary school.

67

You're approaching the grade and

everybody knew she's amazing.

68

And then she had a baby and

she went on maternity leave.

69

But when I was A senior in high school

and then I knew I'm actually gonna

70

get my education degree.

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I asked her if I could shadow

her and help in her classroom.

72

She really poured into me and she was

very influential and I got to see her

73

a couple years ago when I went back

home she's just lovely and so joyful

74

Those would be my big two.

75

How about you?

76

Jen: you?

77

I had a teacher in high school who would

stand outside in the hallway and greet

78

the students as they came in to class.

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And every time I saw

him, I would be smiling.

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And so he nicknamed me Smiley.

81

And he would be like, Hey, there's

82

Steph: there's

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Jen: And he just was so Life-giving

to me and I remember having him at the

84

end of the day, so everybody was tired

and ready to go home and he was just

85

very life-giving to me and he would.

86

Make that history or the topic

that we were studying for that day,

87

just come to life and made it so

interesting and he made it fun.

88

And you had mentioned that one of

your teachers made it fun for you.

89

And I think that's what makes.

90

education stick is when you are

enjoying what you're doing and

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I Enjoyed it for the first time.

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I didn't really care about some of the

other history classes I was taking in

93

the years prior, but he made history come

alive, and I just loved that And just

94

took a personal care, like I remember him

coming to my high school graduation and

95

he had just gotten a red Corvette and he

let all of my friends drive it around.

96

It was, I know it was just so fun and just

personal, it wasn't just a person that

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I saw on the weekdays that did his time.

98

He really cared about his students,

and so that was really cool.

99

Steph: That's fantastic.

100

Very invested.

101

There's some teachers that love their

subject matter, but it's like they

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are like on the journey by themselves.

103

They're not bringing

anyone along with them.

104

And then there's some that you

can't help but get caught up in it.

105

And yes, it's so powerful.

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Jen: That's cool.

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Steph: Okay, if you could snap your

fingers and have gained any one

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quality or attribute, what would it be?

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Jen: Ooh, that would be really good.

110

I think to Be able to get

myself completely ready.

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My hair and makeup and everything

perfectly done the way that You would

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have it done if you were a movie star?

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Like just to look really nice.

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Not even so much the makeup, just my hair.

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I really don't enjoy doing my hair, and so

I don't like to spend a lot of time on it.

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Sure.

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So I would say I would love to be able

to just be like, oh, this is how I do my

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hair every day and it looks wonderful.

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As opposed to having to be like,

what am I gonna do with it today?

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Steph: Have it determined.

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Yes.

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And settled.

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Yes.

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Not another decision.

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Jen: Yes.

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Agreed.

127

It's a weird one, but that's just

the first one that came to my mind.

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Steph: But it's a consistent one.

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Jen: Yes.

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Steph: It's an again of your life.

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Jen: again!

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Yes, exactly.

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Yes.

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What about you?

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Steph: It's of course I can think

of like really deep spiritual

136

answers, but I also feel like I'm

gonna pick something not as deep.

137

I, if I could be a morning person

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Jen: Oh, I changed my

139

Steph: answer.

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Jen: That's it.

141

Yes.

142

Steph: I have grown a lot

and I'm not a late sleeper.

143

Jen: Yeah.

144

Steph: I wish I could be someone who

just woke up at 5 every day and it wasn't

145

hard, cause I, I know the days I do

it, I'm so grateful for that time, 6.

146

30 is like more my norm.

147

It feels like no matter how early I go to

bed, I can't completely make the shift.

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Jen: Yeah, agreed.

149

Steph: I'm gonna say yet.

150

I'm hoping for myself.

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That's

152

Jen: a

153

good answer though, I agree.

154

I feel like morning people

have a leg up in life.

155

Some things are just a

little easier for them.

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Steph: Yes, right?

157

I'm like, well, if you could

see what I can accomplish,

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at 2am, you would be amazed.

159

That's

160

Jen: Okay, I have one for you.

161

If you could return to school, what would

you want to study, and would you want

162

to return to school to study something?

163

Steph: Absolutely.

164

I would, for sure.

165

Actually, a couple years ago,

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I started getting my Master's in

Counseling, I just have such a

167

heart for, joining people alongside

them in their trials, but pointing

168

them to the Lord, and Yes, so I,

that's really, I love doing that.

169

But I also well, I, actually the

Lord interrupted my plan and that's

170

when I started working for Entrusted.

171

And I knew I, I couldn't do both.

172

I couldn't homeschool my kids

and go back to school and work.

173

And and so I think it's so

sweet of the Lord to give me an

174

opportunity to pour into women.

175

Maybe a different avenue.

176

And.

177

So I'm like, Lord, is it on pause

or is it a, no, I'm just giving

178

you a different route to still

use the desire that you had.

179

So I would say it either be that or

like getting my master's in biblical

180

studies because I just love studying

the word of God, but I also would be

181

a little bit hesitant because I would

never want it to feel like homework.

182

Jen: Good point.

183

Yeah,

184

Steph: And so I, Again, I'm like,

Lord, are we just going to go like

185

a non traditional route here, or is

that going to be in my future someday?

186

But those are the two topics that

really, and if I had to pick a

187

shorter one, culinary school.

188

Jen: Ooh.

189

Ooh.

190

That

191

would be good.

192

Yeah.

193

I have a couple as well.

194

I think I would definitely do

something to study the natural

195

world and natural medicine.

196

I would love that.

197

I just, I find that so interesting.

198

I also would like to do some type

of Bible class, I don't, I agree.

199

I think that was a good

word that you said.

200

I didn't want it to be like homework, but

I would love to understand some things

201

that I wasn't taught in, a public school.

202

Yeah, I think that's it.

203

Steph: You can tell that we

both love learning, right?

204

So it's probably not a mystery why we

chose to homeschool, but that doesn't

205

mean that we knew that we were going

to necessarily from the beginning so

206

why don't you just bring us into what

that decision looked like for you

207

and how you decided to homeschool?

208

Jen: to homeschool around preschool

age we had desired to send her

209

to our church's school that they

had on campus of the church.

210

And so since we thought we were going

to be going there five or six days

211

a week, we're like, well, let's move

close so we can be there, easily.

212

And we did, we moved into the home.

213

And then a couple of months later,

they closed the school that was at that

214

Steph: No!

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And I was devastated.

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Jen: I literally wept.

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I remember just being like, Oh

no, like that was the best option.

218

And I cannot believe it.

219

I just remember feeling like,

Lord, what are you doing?

220

And I had even spent the year prior

just very much praying for her teacher.

221

Our firstborn was very, still is very

tenderhearted and sensitive and kind

222

and gentle has a desire to obey and

Wants to please people And I just was

223

like, Oh goodness, she needs a teacher

that's going to see her tender heart.

224

And so I was praying for

her teacher for a full year,

225

Not

226

knowing that the Lord had plans

that I was going to be her teacher.

227

And I was the one that was

going to need those prayers.

228

But so what we did was I, we

started looking around at different

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Christian schools in our area.

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Cause we felt very called that

we did want her to be educated

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through a Christian worldview.

232

So we looked at different.

233

Schools in our area and interviewed them

and a number of them were like, Oh, we

234

just have them, you know, know that Jesus

is their super power or their superhero.

235

And I said, well, what scriptures

are you having them memorize?

236

They're like, we don't really

have them do scriptures.

237

We've just more talk about

that Jesus is always around.

238

And I was like, then

what am I paying you for?

239

We did find one school that we were

going to send her to, and we felt

240

like they were pretty intentional.

241

They did have them do scripture memory.

242

And.

243

I paid the enrollment fee and the

day was coming where we were going to

244

send her and I just couldn't do it.

245

I couldn't do it.

246

I was like, I just had in my heart

that she needed to stay home.

247

So I talked to my husband about

it and I said, I just feel like

248

we should keep her home, but I am

freaked out about homeschooling.

249

Steph: but

250

Jen: I could do this, but I

don't know what else to do.

251

And.

252

As the Lord would have it, there was a

local homeschooling conference like the

253

next week, and it was right before their

school year was going to begin anyway.

254

So he was like, why don't

you go to this conference?

255

Just think about it and pray about it.

256

And then maybe after the

conference, you'll just have a

257

leading as to what we should do.

258

Steph: That's great

259

Jen: So I did, I went to it and I.

260

I literally sat there and bawled and I

felt the heavens like, were like, Oh,

261

opening up this is where you need me.

262

And I remember going and asking this

lady, they had a question area where you

263

could go and ask any questions and there

were a bunch of women sitting at tables.

264

And I remember asking this lady through

tears I think I need to send her to school

265

because she's so shy and tender hearted.

266

And I don't want to send her

to school, but I'm also really

267

scared about homeschooling.

268

I don't know if I can do this.

269

And she said, Well, who

is your daughter shy with?

270

Is she shy with other kids?

271

Is she shy with adults?

272

And I was like, No, she's

great with other kids.

273

She'll talk and play and she

has no problem with other kids.

274

It's like adults and people she doesn't

know she's very painfully shy with.

275

And she was like, Well, then tell

me why you would want to send her

276

all day to hang out with a group of

277

Children.

278

All her age to get

279

Steph: shy.

280

And I was like,

281

Jen: I was like, I don't know.

282

That's just what the world

says that you have to socialize

283

them and you have to do this.

284

So I just thought that's my only option.

285

And she was like, I think you

could be a little more creative

286

if she's shy with adults.

287

Why don't you take her around adults?

288

And so I came home and I prayed about

it and I, we lived at that point

289

right next door to a nursing home.

290

She loved to do artwork and so I

would take some of her artwork that us

291

mamas are always trying to figure out

What do we do with all this artwork?

292

And I found the perfect solution She

would take her artwork and we would go

293

to the we would ride our bikes to the

nursing home And she would walk into

294

the room and she had to say her name.

295

Hi.

296

My name is here is a piece of

my artwork, would you like it?

297

And if, whether or not the person

said yes or no, then she would have

298

to ask them their name and say,

thank you for taking my artwork.

299

I hope you have a good day and

say her name or say their name.

300

And the first time she did it, she was

so nervous and I was like, honey, these

301

are the perfect people to practice with.

302

One, they think you're just so cute.

303

Two, they're just excited to

see another little girl here.

304

And three, They won't remember

you two minutes after you leave

305

this room, like it's totally safe.

306

And so she did it and she just became

so social and so confident and it

307

really, it blessed the old people in

that little home and it blessed her

308

and it was a beautiful thing, way more

beautiful than I could have imagined.

309

Steph: I absolutely love that idea.

310

It's so special.

311

Jen: It was very sweet.

312

So after that I was like, Oh!

313

She's not as shy, like she's

willing to talk to people.

314

And I continued to homeschool then,

obviously we made the decision to

315

homeschool and so just continued.

316

And each year I just kept getting better.

317

It was like I'm sure every homeschool.

318

Family has said we'll

take it a year at a time.

319

I kid at a time, but every

time at the end of the year,

320

I'm like, man, that was great.

321

Let's do it again.

322

So that's our story.

323

Steph: And how many years

has it been for you now?

324

Jen: I guess this is like 10th year.

325

So we then have homeschooled her from, we

did preschool and kindergarten, and now

326

she's going into her ninth grade year.

327

And then we have three other kids, and

we've just taken them along with us.

328

And the beauty of this is I've

always taught to the oldest.

329

And so they have all been educated

without even being of school age.

330

So even the little one that I would be

You know, playing on the ground with,

331

or whatnot, and there would be an audio

book playing in the background, and she

332

would be listening and saying, Horsey!

333

And it was, yeah you understand.

334

You were listening to this story, even

though you're not even of school age.

335

Steph: Oh, that's fantastic.

336

Jen: So what about you?

337

How did your homeschool journey start?

338

Steph: Well, as I mentioned, I thought

I was going to be a pediatrician because

339

I loved kids and then realized my heart

was probably too sensitive for that.

340

My dad asked me, well, what if something

happened to one of those children?

341

Could you handle it?

342

I was like, what a horrible question!

343

Jen: And

344

Steph: he was like, why

don't you be a teacher?

345

I kind of reluctantly went into education

and then when I graduated, I came to

346

teach at a Christian school, and actually,

the Christian school that you're talking

347

about, that you were going to send your

daughter to another location of it, and

348

it was a wonderful school, and I felt

like the Lord taught me so much there,

349

even about parenting, just watching godly

parents and, but, my, I met my husband,

350

he worked on the church side, and When

we got married, we were in a small group

351

together and we went through a book about

just different decisions that you'd make

352

once you have kids and when it got to the

chapter on just about schooling decisions.

353

It's funny because he and I probably

argued way more about like our

354

China pattern than this decision.

355

Like every decision we've ever made, it's

probably been a lot more debate over this.

356

But I remember us sitting in an airport

and kind of being like, okay, well,

357

we've got to get the chapter done

for a group this week and we both

358

knew we had a heart for education.

359

To provide discipleship and come alongside

our spiritual goals for our kids.

360

And we knew, well, on his salary,

and then if I'm home, it's probably

361

not going to work for private school.

362

So we looked at each other

and like, homeschool?

363

And both of us were like, yeah.

364

I might've been pregnant

with my oldest at that time.

365

And then when we had our oldest,

he is such a bundle of energy and

366

I think he taught himself to read

when he was three, and yet he

367

was still bouncing off the walls.

368

And I felt no, I'm not sending

that kid, to sit in a desk all day.

369

Jen: Totally.

370

Steph: Then we had three

boys in three years.

371

And I wanted them to be so close.

372

That's one of my biggest goals for

my family, that they are close.

373

And I felt like, who is going to care

more about their education than me?

374

I had been a classroom teacher and

been extremely invested And yet I knew

375

what I was feeling for my own child

completely surpassed what I felt for my

376

students in my class, and I know him.

377

I know his strengths.

378

I know his weaknesses.

379

I just was delighted at the

opportunity to try to guide him

380

and his siblings through it.

381

Later we had a little girl.

382

It's just been such a

delight to grow as a family.

383

And even when, we've got through some

pretty hard trials as a family, I feel

384

like homeschooling has been our anchor.

385

Jen: Yeah.

386

Steph: If I almost think that I've

been discipling them emotionally as

387

much as academically and training

them in those things that we

388

needed time together to process

through things that were happening.

389

And if I were sending them off each

day, which some days probably would

390

have been a lot easier, as I'm trying

to process my own emotions, but.

391

I think it was such a gift to be like, no,

we're going to go through this together.

392

Jen: this together.

393

Yeah, That's true.

394

I think of that often when I'm in

the midst of the homeschool days.

395

In fact, I have a little part on

our calendar that I do like my

396

little planner, and I started to

put in the top right corner, just

397

a box that I put anything that God.

398

planned that I didn't plan for the day.

399

And it makes it, I like to put the

things in there like character training,

400

Steph: Yes!

401

Jen: because we spent a lot of

time on character training today.

402

And that was not part of my curriculum

that I thought I was going to teach.

403

And, but it makes it.

404

It makes me realize that

there is a purpose in this.

405

And so as you spend every waking hour with

each other, things are going to come up.

406

But the joy of homeschooling is

that we, as the parent, we get

407

to disciple them through that.

408

Biblically, and how to handle

that conflict with them.

409

Where when they were in a school

setting, even if they were in a

410

Christian setting at school, the

teacher does not have the time or the

411

ability to stop and take as long as she

wants to disciple them through that.

412

And we've just been able to see the

blessing that we can take as long as

413

we need until we learn this lesson.

414

I always think of It being funny

when people say we homeschool.

415

So that.

416

They wouldn't be exposed to the sin in

the world, and I'm like, oh my goodness,

417

we have enough sin in our own home.

418

Steph: Exactly.

419

We

420

Jen: We got enough curriculum here on sin.

421

Like we, we've got it in these walls.

422

So there's so much to teach them and

so much to disciple them through.

423

And I'm just so thankful for the

time that we can spend doing that.

424

Steph: Often people will say to me, Oh,

what did you do before you became a mom?

425

And when I say teacher, then

they say, Oh, of course you

426

homeschool.

427

And

428

I feel like, No, I really

had to unlearn some things.

429

I have some different

convictions about education now.

430

I actually really love

this model of education.

431

I think sometimes it can be more efficient

in this way or I see how kids are gifted

432

at this age and I want to teach to that.

433

And I can so clearly remember when

it's the middle of first quarter and

434

I'd be sitting at my computer writing

out my progress reports of students.

435

And I loved my students, but I

can remember saying Lord, please

436

give me something true and good to

say about them because I'm trying

437

to get to know all of them, but I

just don't know them that well yet.

438

And I didn't want to be dishonest

to the parents and say, Oh, well,

439

Billy needs to work on self control

or something, but I love his.

440

Servant heart or something.

441

I wanted it to be true.

442

And that is what comes

to my mind Every time

443

a mom says, I just don't

know if I can do it.

444

I want to tell her, you are

an expert on your child.

445

And every year that they go to

Another, educational environment, that

446

teacher is learning about them, and

it takes so long to learn about the

447

strengths and weaknesses of children.

448

And not only are kids, losing over

the summer and needing to review,

449

it's, and that, that beginning of

the school year is like just such a

450

review and maybe not as efficient, but.

451

The new teacher and the way that works.

452

What a blessing to be able to have

different teachers in your life.

453

I think that's fantastic, but just the

reality that they don't know you like your

454

mom knows you and an expert is defined

as having 10, 000 hours of experience

455

with something how long would that be

with your child to reach 10, 000 hours?

456

It's about two and a quarter years

if you think that they're awake

457

on average of 12 hours a day.

458

You are an expert on your child.

459

You know how they learn.

460

You know what they're excited about.

461

Ooh, this is how I could get

this child excited about books.

462

This is how I could get this child to

do a math lesson, I can pull it in.

463

I'm going to bake with this one

as I teach fractions because

464

they love to bake with me.

465

And so I cannot underestimate that, that

knowing your child well already puts you

466

in a great position to be their educator.

467

And you don't need to feel like you're

at a deficit because maybe you don't know

468

the pedagogy, which is how you educate

that can be learned and you're already,

469

you've already done that because you've

taught your children so many things.

470

You've potty trained them at this,

by this point, you've taught them

471

so many manners, you've taught

them about the Lord, probably.

472

So you are already learning how it works.

473

That would just be my

number one encouragement.

474

You're already an expert on your

child, so don't feel disqualified from

475

Jen: Totally.

476

I agree wholeheartedly, and I don't think

that the world really understands that.

477

I get it the opposite.

478

I wasn't a teacher, and so people are

like, how are you gonna do calculus?

479

And I'm like, well, if it's something

that I haven't taken myself, there's

480

this wonderful thing called the Internet.

481

And these curriculums that you buy,

they teach so much that you don't

482

need to understand it as a whole.

483

And be like the expert in it.

484

Your child, the beauty of homeschool

is that your child is learning

485

how to learn alongside with you.

486

So you are teaching your child, even from

an early age, how to find information,

487

where to find information, how to

understand, to read the information.

488

And as they grow and develop

and they get more and more.

489

Educated.

490

They know how to find the

information on their own.

491

They become self learners.

492

And it's a benefit for when they get

older and they are going off to college.

493

They already know their learning style.

494

They know how to find

information and where and what

495

to look for good information.

496

And a lot of times when you're in college,

I know I didn't know my learning style

497

near as well when I got to college.

498

I was like, Oh.

499

How do I figure this out?

500

And I, you already know that because you

were the one working with them to help

501

them figure this out from the beginning.

502

It wasn't just shoving

them off and then saying,

503

well, good luck.

504

Steph: It

505

Jen: they become self learners.

506

Steph: Mm hmm.

507

I think you and I would both say

that probably our precious time

508

with our kids homeschooling has been

reading to them and sharing stories.

509

I just picture so many mornings of

snuggled up together and reading

510

books and laughing together and

having great conversations and

511

how that love of learning is so

important as we're guiding them.

512

And The joy that inspires, Sarah

McKenzie, well, she's my number

513

one recommendation, and she wrote

a book called Teaching from Rest, A

514

Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace.

515

And it's a pretty quick read

516

except you feel like you need

to underline the entire thing.

517

Jen: It's, true.

518

Steph: so I, that is a book that

I have told people just read

519

that every year before you begin.

520

a school year because

it's just so phenomenal.

521

She has so much rich wisdom there,

but she talks a lot about reading

522

to them and the value of that.

523

And she has a lot of great

book lists and things.

524

But she talks also about just living your

life in front of your kids and teaching

525

them how to, steward a home, how to

garden, how to cook, all sorts of things.

526

Do you have any recommended

resources that have encouraged

527

Jen: Yes I also agree

with Teaching from Rest.

528

I think that was a wonderful book.

529

I enjoyed it as well.

530

But I also like to read For

the Children's Sake every year.

531

It, That has been such a blessing to

me, just to reaffirm to me why I'm

532

doing this and a little bit of how

I want to do it as well, but more.

533

Just like encouragement as to why and

to get my heart behind it each year,

534

when Especially during the summer you

get relaxed a little bit and you're

535

like, oh, it is a lot of work to

homeschool But when I read that it's

536

like it inspires me to do the work.

537

So yeah, I like that one a lot

538

Steph: And of course God's word has

been such a guide and when I read

539

in Deuteronomy six, six, and seven.

540

When it says, And these words that

I command you today shall be on your

541

heart, you shall teach them diligently

to your children, and shall talk

542

of them when you sit in your house,

when you walk by the way, and when

543

you lie down, and when you rise.

544

And, of course, I know moms that

send their children to school

545

and are so faithful and diligent

with this in the other hours.

546

But I love how homeschooling

gives me many hours to do that.

547

It's just it makes it

easier for that diligence.

548

And the other scripture that has

brought me so much peace and hope in my

549

homeschooling is Isaiah 54 verses 10 and

13 says, for the mountains may depart and

550

the hills be removed, but my steadfast

love shall not depart from you and my

551

covenant of peace shall not be removed,

says the Lord who has compassion on you.

552

All your children shall

be taught by the Lord.

553

And great shall be the

peace of your children.

554

Even though I know I'm taking on a huge

role of educating them, ultimately, at the

555

end of the day, the Lord is their teacher.

556

If I keep that in perspective, I

don't put all that pressure on myself.

557

The Lord is ordaining so many

circumstances in their lives and,

558

who their siblings would be and where

we would live and our neighbors.

559

I want to trust in him and seek his

guidance and his leadership for them.

560

And our name of our homeschool

is Covenant of Peace Academy

561

because of that scripture.

562

That's been really sweet to me, especially

when we've gone through hard times , we

563

don't need to be shaken, that I believe

there's fruit at the end of all of this

564

character building and, sanctification.

565

Jen: Yes, absolutely.

566

Steph: Would

567

Jen: that.

568

And I love that you have that

verse about teaching because I also

569

have felt the same way that the

Lord is their ultimate teacher.

570

My favorite verse for homeschooling,

one of them is Psalm 32, 8,

571

I will instruct you and teach

you in the way you should go.

572

I will counsel you with my eye upon you.

573

And.

574

Just a totally different verse, but

about him being our teacher, that

575

he is leading us, not only us as the

moms, but he's leading our children.

576

He is their teacher and he is

going to perform what he needs to

577

perform in their lives to get them

to the point where he wants them.

578

And I love that.

579

And I find such peace in that as I'm

planning for the homeschool year and I'm.

580

Worried even on those days where

I'm like, oh, we didn't get as much

581

math in as I wanted or whatnot.

582

I love that one.

583

I also love the verse in Isaiah 40, 11.

584

He tends his flock like a shepherd.

585

He gathers the lambs in his arms

and carries them close to his heart.

586

He gently leads those that have young.

587

I find such peace in that

because he is gently leading me.

588

There's times where.

589

I'm like, God I don't know what to do.

590

I don't.

591

I have taught this child in every

way that I can imagine how to do this

592

equation in math or whatnot, and it's

just the light bulb isn't clicking on.

593

And then I'll go away to pray and

I'll give some time for the child.

594

And even if the child doesn't get the math

that day, I feel like he's leading me.

595

He'll be like.

596

Take a break, or go for a walk,

or just sit down and do another

597

worksheet with that child.

598

But I have never felt in a day that

I just don't know what to do and

599

I don't have the resources I need.

600

There's definite times where I

don't know what to do, but the Lord

601

reveals to me in those moments Just

take a break, or go pray about it.

602

Steph: Sure

603

Jen: It's amazing how He's

leading us, and I love that.

604

Steph: absolutely

605

The Lord has really allowed me to

be humbled as I've needed to work

606

to help provide for the family, and

been dealing with different health

607

issues in our family and then also

financial constraints, and I feel like

608

I can't do it like I want to do it.

609

And it's hard because I know the

right way I know what to do often,

610

and yet the Lord is allowed.

611

These restrictions upon us and that

takes a lot of faith for me To say

612

I trust you with the result because

I know that these are things you've

613

ordained and I know you're sovereign

God, and I know you love them more than

614

I love them So you're providing for us

and providing what they need and the

615

scripture that really encourages me is

from the feeding of the 5, 000 When

616

the little boy, the lunch is given, and

Jesus basically says, what do you have?

617

Give it to me.

618

Jen: Oh, I love

619

Steph: And if I focus on,

Lord, I was faithful today.

620

That's what you called me to.

621

You didn't call me to, do miracles

in my children's mind I don't

622

have to be the one to produce all

the fruit, but was I faithful?

623

And of course, some days I'm not, I, I,

624

don't know, stopped to scroll for a little

bit on Instagram or I, decided I really

625

needed a closet cleaned and that was going

to bring me some sort of peace or, but.

626

I just, to try to be faithful and to

trust Him to produce the fruit, just

627

like He did with the feeding of the

5, 000, then it's a lot less pressure

628

on me for what's produced in them.

629

And I think when I can rest in that,

just like teaching from rest, when I can

630

rest in that in what the Lord is doing,

it takes a lot of pressure off of me.

631

Jen: Yes.

632

Yes.

633

I agree.

634

And going back to that scripture,

I love that because you know that

635

little boy's mama made him that lunch.

636

She's before you go off,

you're gonna get hungry.

637

Here's a little lunch for you.

638

I think that's so sweet that he And she

trained him up to be willing to share.

639

I love that story.

640

I love the, to think of that behind

the scenes with that little boy

641

being willing to share his lunch.

642

And we know boys with

643

Steph: Yeah.

644

Lunch is a big thing.

645

Jen: He's willing to share.

646

That's really sweet.

647

So

648

Steph: It is.

649

Jen: I love that you had

mentioned earlier that education

650

is discipleship and It so is.

651

It is so a discipleship.

652

And I love the fact that we

have the time to be able to read

653

through the Bible in a school year.

654

We've planned through how much we can

read in a day in our homeschool day

655

to be able to get through the Bible.

656

And I know that if we were doing a

different type of schooling, I would, I

657

don't think at the end of the day they

would come home from school that I'd

658

be like, okay, now sit down and we're

going to read through the Bible together.

659

I don't, maybe I would, but

I just don't think I would.

660

have that in me.

661

And having the time to be able

to do that has been so amazing.

662

And to be able to dive into a

different book series because

663

we're like, Oh, we love that book.

664

And I think that even with

reading aloud to kids, one of the

665

coolest things that I've learned.

666

Being a homeschool mom is how these

book characters come so alive and

667

become like part of your family.

668

Like I remember weeping when we

got done reading Little Britches.

669

We sat around the table together weeping

like we didn't want the book to be

670

done and we just felt in our hearts

like these were dear friends of ours

671

we learn so much from the different

characters in those books about

672

How

673

to be a good son, how to work hard,

how to have integrity and I just

674

love that part of reading aloud and

snuggling together on the couch and

675

being able to experience different

cultures and different situations,

676

Steph: jen, you have such a beautiful

homeschool space, will you tell us a

677

little bit about how you've planned that

and what the name of your homeschool is?

678

Jen: Yeah, three years ago,

we built a custom made home.

679

In the plans, we decided

to have a homeschool room.

680

And it was so much fun to plan and

just to, I actually remember crying

681

over the plans thinking, this is where.

682

The discipling of our kids is

going to happen on the daily.

683

So yes, we have a

homeschool room that I love.

684

Above the door before we enter

it is our school name, which

685

is Joyful Adventure Academy.

686

I, we asked the kids what

they wanted to name it.

687

And we all agreed that it needed to have

joyful and it needed to have adventure.

688

We're constantly talking about

anything that doesn't go well in a day.

689

We're like, well, it's an adventure.

690

Steph: Ha ha Ha!

691

Jen: it is a fun adventure

and it's a glorious adventure.

692

And other times it's not as fun, but

it still is definitely an adventure.

693

And and.

694

Both of my daughters have the middle

name Joy, and so we just wanted to keep

695

in the joy of learning, the joy of being

together, the joy of being a Christ

696

follower, and the joy of being siblings

together, and the joy of being a family.

697

And so that was important to them,

and so we named it Joyful Adventure.

698

And I just think it's so funny because

sometimes when we're in public and people

699

say aren't you supposed to be in school?

700

And we give the We are in school

answer and then sometimes we'll

701

ask the school name and we'll

say Joyful Adventure Academy.

702

And I had one lady at Trader Joe's say,

703

Oh,

704

I think I've heard of that

705

Steph: one.

706

You do?

707

And I

708

Jen: And I just had to

laugh and say not too new.

709

And we moved on.

710

But it's very sweet.

711

And our kids just like to tell people

our name because I think it's just a fun.

712

It's a fun way of sharing who we are.

713

Steph: absolutely.

714

Oh, it's great.

715

It's about the perspective, right?

716

Jen: Yes, absolutely.

717

Where do you do your homeschool?

718

Steph: We've had dedicated homeschool

rooms before, but I have found

719

that the table next to the kitchen

is where we almost always are.

720

I think the light is

the best in that room.

721

Yeah.

722

It's an open room and so often we'll start

out reading on the couches and having

723

our morning time and then we head over

to the table it's not our dining room

724

table, the dining room table is a room

over and so then if I need someone to be

725

able to have a little bit more focused

time, they can go over there or, and it's

726

right outside so then if the younger ones

need to play outside for a while or if I'm

727

like, okay, go run laps around the house

or go, catch 50 pop ups or something.

728

I still have an eye on them.

729

And then if I need to make snacks,

that's what works best for us right now

730

I have, One cabinet right off of

that room that's filled with the

731

curriculum that we really need.

732

And then everything else is

in our playroom with a lot

733

of bookshelves and things.

734

But I try to even limit

what goes in the cabinets.

735

Can I actually get to this?

736

If I can't, then why would I

put that guilt on myself every

737

time I see that resource?

738

I still tend to over plan, but I don't

want to forget that I have something

739

but just, it's like, if you can't

really get to it, get it out of here.

740

Cause it's just going

to make you feel bad,

741

Jen: yeah, agreed.

742

I agree with that.

743

We also do, we have a homeschool room.

744

But, and we start there in the morning.

745

We do morning time.

746

We pray over all of our neighbors,

all of our friends, prayer requests.

747

We have a little notebook, which I love.

748

It's my favorite time of the morning.

749

And I ask each kid a prayer

request and I get to hear.

750

What's on their heart, and so we

pray about that, and then we read

751

the Bible together, and then we'll

move to the living room, especially

752

in the winter where the fireplace is,

and we'll snuggle up and listen to

753

either an audiobook or me read aloud.

754

And then we will break off into math,

and one kid goes in the homeschool room,

755

one goes to the dining room table, and

one's going up to their room to do it.

756

So we're all over the home, but the

curriculum is housed for sure in

757

the homeschool room, but, I agree.

758

It becomes a home

throughout the whole home.

759

We're homeschooling.

760

Steph: Absolutely.

761

There are definitely things that

we love about what we're doing

762

now, but we've had to learn,

763

yeah.

764

What is something, if you

could go back, you would change

765

about the way you homeschooled?

766

Jen: Yeah, for sure.

767

I would not buy brand

new full box curriculum.

768

I remember thinking I needed to

buy everything that was in the

769

catalog and if I didn't they were

gonna be Very unwise children.

770

So I would now, what I do now is I will

look at the curriculum and then I will

771

go on eBay or on Facebook Marketplace or

even at random garage sales, wherever I

772

can, ask other friends, and I will buy

at all costs as many used books as I can.

773

And then even the used,

we use sex and math.

774

And so I would always

buy a used sex and math.

775

And then I'll go on Amazon and buy.

776

The new, brand new workbook

that the child will go through.

777

But I definitely don't do

the whole box set anymore.

778

And I wouldn't, especially because

then, if it doesn't work for us for

779

some reason, or if I didn't finish it, I

don't feel like I'm out three grand and

780

I have to be a slave to this curriculum.

781

I'm only out a little bit because I

didn't have to pay for it brand new.

782

Steph: Yep, I agree.

783

It's wonderful to find used resources.

784

I remember when my oldest, cause

I saw that he was so bright,

785

and so I would sit him down.

786

And we'd go through these math

books and he was getting stressed

787

out by it and I didn't understand

why it wasn't clicking more.

788

And I thought, he's so

smart what's the problem?

789

And I learned that he's a kinesthetic

learner he needs to be moving.

790

Even though he had the intelligence

to do it, the way I was presenting

791

it to him was so defeating and

discouraging for this little boy's

792

body, and I said to my friend, yeah,

I feel like I failed him this year.

793

And she said, you didn't fail

your son, you learned about him.

794

It was such a good word.

795

And she said she actually knows of

some corporate companies that embrace

796

a culture of failure that if you are

doing something, if you're embarking on a

797

project and you realize, wow, this isn't

gonna be profitable and you cut bait,

798

they will reward you with vacation time.

799

And That was so helpful for me

because I felt like when I started

800

out, I have to do it all right.

801

I have to pick the curriculum

we're going to start with.

802

And my fourth one had just been born.

803

I didn't know exactly what our

family was going to look like.

804

As much as we want to start

well, be willing to let the Lord.

805

Change it

806

maybe you're convinced.

807

Okay.

808

I think I can do this.

809

I have a heart for it.

810

I just don't know where to start.

811

That book, Teaching from Rest, is a very

practical resource to lay out how you

812

could start and it will be different.

813

Dependent upon the age of your children,

but we really do believe that you can

814

do this and there are a lot of wonderful

resources online, but I would encourage

815

you to not seek too many avenues, not

to listen to too many people because

816

that's when it gets really overwhelming.

817

And as we've said, the Lord is your

teacher, just as he will be your

818

children's teacher, he's your teacher.

819

Allow him to lead you on this go to

him, surrendered, and he will guide you.

820

We want to remind you to stick around for

the end, for the part that we pray over.

821

You.

822

We truly are rooting for you.

823

if you've been blessed by this

podcast, please leave a review on

824

your favorite listening platform.

825

And we will have more

homeschooling episodes.

826

In the future, but we just

wanted to get this one out.

827

To help you persevere through one

of those hard seasons in the year.

828

You can do this.

829

We know you're busy, Mama, so

we are truly grateful you joined

830

us for this episode of Again.

831

If you're looking for more information

about building your home on the

832

foundation of Jesus Christ, head to www.

833

EntrustedMinistries.

834

com to learn more about our study for

moms, Entrusted with a Child's Heart.

835

This scripture saturated study

has blessed families around the

836

world, and we want it for you, too.

837

Before you go, I want to pray

this benediction over you

838

from 2 Thessalonians 1, 11 12.

839

We're rooting for you.

840

To this end, we always pray for you,

that our God may make you worthy of His

841

calling, and may fulfill every resolve

for good, and every work of faith by

842

His power, so that the name of our Lord

Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in

843

Him, according to the grace of our God.

844

And the Lord Jesus Christ.

845

Amen.

846

Until we meet again.