The first theme begins today, August 20th, 2008. This week, we want to hear about YOU. The author behind the words. The Momma behind all the homeschooling kiddos. Just write up something about you, your family, and your home. How long you’ve been homeschooling and why you decided to homeschool. It doesn’t have to be anything lengthy at all, but we’d love to hear it! You might include a family photo too!
So, I didn't have enough to do in my day 
...or in my blogging...that I joined a weekly theme....I thought maybe it would help me focus on something specifically in blogging rather than my ramblings... 
Here's the first entry...the author behind the words....
My family...well...they are my life. This past August 5th marked 19 years since our first date. I, quite honestly, would have married my Honey a month later. He, however, wanted to be slow and steady (as he just is!!!) and waited to propose one year, one month and 16 days later. We became one on January 5, 1991. I cannot imagine my life without my Honey. He completes me.
We have been incredibly blessed to have been given the four most wonderful children to raise. They are such a light in our eyes. What a blessing they all are to us!!! We are now in our 12th year of homeschooling...if you count from the time of "official" school beginning....
How did we decide to homeschool? It was an easy decision. Before we were even married, we knew. Some folks attended our church were homeschoolers. While we were impressed with their education, what impressed us even moreso was the family dynamics. How the older children related to the younger ones. How they could all be children together, yet hold an intelligent conversation with adults. How they were confident in who they were...because their self worth was not dependant on peers.
Another thing that made this an easy choice was my Honey's own school experience. He didn't have the greatest home life...and school life was not any better. He couldn't wait to get out of school, so much so, that he left high school just months before graduation. He attended night school and had his GED before his classmates had their diplomas. Looking back, he does wish he had stuck it out those last few months...but hindsight is definitely 20/20.
Some people have great experiences in school, others have terrible experiences, still others have just mediocre experiences. Mine would have been mediocre. It wasn't awful and it wasn't great. It just was.
When we were blessed with our first babe, Rebecca, I knew there was NO WAY I'd be able to give her over to some stranger for 8 hours a day. Imagine my happiness when the start of that first school year came and she was still home with me. I can't imagine not being the one to teach my children...to read...to add....God's Word....life. We have some of the best discussions during our school time.
I LOVE homeschooling my children. Sure, we have days that are less than stellar. We're human after all. But, even on our worst day, I'd never send them off to school. Never. They are home...right where they belong.
Okay...got a little off course there...sorry!!! See..this is why this theme is good for me...sticking to the topic....
Our home....we live on an 83 acre farm in southern, middle TN. We moved here 4-1/2 years ago from SW Florida. I wouldn't want to go back to Florida to live ever. (I moved to Florida when I was 14 with my folks and brothers from upstate NY after our dairy barn burned down...). While I am ever so thankful that we moved there so I could meet and marry my love, I don't care to live there again. It's too hot. No four seasons (unless you count summer three times and one fall). It's too crowded. It's too busy. It's too....just not me. I love living in the country. I love only passing one or two cars the whole way to town. Sure, there are trade-offs, but they are worth it.
We have beef cows, chickens, guineas, dogs and 2 cats. We've had the gamut here, animal wise. At one point, we had beef cows, dairy cow, goats, pigs, ducks, guineas, dogs and cats. It was waaaaay too much. When feed costs started to soar, we knew we had to downsize to just what we needed. I do miss having a dairy cow, but that's another post for another day. Actually, I've already posted that...our dairy cow stepped on my face last July...and she's no longer with us. It was such a sad ending to a really exciting beginning.
I look forward to more entries in this theme...hope you enjoyed my post!
