Why We Homeschool

I've posted on here about why we homeschool before but Anjanette over at Raising the Barr's is starting a series where other bloggers share why they homeschool . Today I've got my first guest post on her blog! Stop on by and check it out. 

Why We Homeschool

Diligence Update

Well, seeing that I haven't updated in several months, it's clear that I've gotten off track from my "Diligence" goals for this year! I did want to finally update though. Each month in the middle of the month I'd think about doing this then forget and remember at the end of the month and thing "oh I'll just remember to do it in a few weeks." Only problem was I never did!

Bible Reading
Still working on this! I'm getting back into reading daily although I'm quite behind on my read the Bible in 1 year goal. It will take me more than a year but I WILL get there!

School
We have started up the new school year. We ended up taking the summer off as I've mentioned in other posts due to the craziness this summer brought for us. School is going pretty well though and the kids are enjoying it!

Hunter is working on reading and we've started our country studies with My Father's World for Chelsea. Natalie is still mostly tagging along although she does have her own workbook she can do as she pleases.

I am finding it hard with extra kids in the house some days. I need to get more consistent with Hunter's school work. We did start in February so we have plenty of wiggle room but I know consistency will help him learn more.

My House
With our move my houe got BIGGER! Such a blessing but it also means more work. I also have a basement for my laundry so it's not confined to one basket in the tiny laundry room anymore. Overall things are going pretty well! We have gotten out of the habit of the kids having morning chores and need to get back into that. I also need to find a way to keep up on their rooms. Chelsea tries to keep up on the girls room but we have friends staying with us and 3 little girls up there playing while we do school makes for quite the mess.So that's my goal for this month, find a way to keep up better on the kid's rooms

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Picture from SoupArt

I've heard these verses in the past but this year I'm truly finding out what they really mean. My husband has struggled with depression and anxiety. Last year, 2012, things got so bad that he hardly left our bed room. He didn't join us for meals, spend time with the kids unless they came to the bedroom, go to church or anywhere else. I'd like to say I was a supportive, understanding wife who stood firmly by him without a complaint but that would be a major lie. 

I greatly struggled watching my husband go through months of not interacting with anyone and sleeping the days away in our room despite my best efforts at getting him out of the house. There were many days I wanted to give up and run away and I almost did a few times. 

When we went on our vacation with his family last August he was forced out of the house, awake most of the day and out enjoying North Carolina. That broke the ice for him and he started the upward climb from his depression. 

Going through all of that with him made me rely greatly on God to get through my days. I see now that's one thing He was trying to teach me as I went through those difficult months. 

The other lesson relates to 2 Corinthians 1:3-4. "so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God"

This year my best friend had her world turned upside down and now she's struggling with depression. 

I now see that God led me through last year with my husband so that I can now encourage her and be more understanding of where she's at. 

Had I known last year that God would use me in this way just the following year I don't know that it would have made last year easier. Seeing it now though it reminds me that God makes all things work together for our good and His glory.

I want to encourage you, whatever trials you are going through, God has a plan. He will see you through if you rely on Him for your strength to make it through each day no matter how hard it may seem. One day He may use that struggle you've been through to help someone in a similar situation so that you may be a light in their time of darkness.