This list was originally written on July 17, 2018.

At the point in which pen met paper for this list homeschool had been on our hearts for about four months. One of the first homeschool youtube channels I watched (grace & grit) recommended doing this so… I did.

These are in no particular order, just how they came to my mind.

1. The Lord placed it on my heart.
2. More time together.
3. Avoid/ limit bullying.
4. Limit exposure to sickness.
5. Flexbility.
6. More time can be spent building morals & character.
7. We can explain things from a Godly point of view when worldly issues are presented. (I’m just gonna be real open and honest right here and say that one of our biggest concerns raising boys is pornography. The age of exposure gets younger and younger each year and it makes me physically sick to think about them seeing something at such a young age and not being able to immediately explain that it is in no way appropriate).
8. Christian based curriculum.
9. We can slow down in certain subjects and spend more time or speed up if need be.
10. We can spend more time on things and incorporate more of what the boys are currently into.
11. Freedom to travel whenever we want to and be able to not get behind on lessons.

I’m sure as time goes on even more things will be added to this list but I’m very thankful I have it to come back to on my hardest days. 🙂

Because of His grace,
Hannah

If you would have told me before I had babies I would one day become a homeschooling mama, I most likely would’ve thought you had me mistaken for someone else.

You see, I am not what some may call a Pinterest mama, I’m not even a really strong candidate for a amazon Mom. In all honesty, I would put myself in the “hot mess mama” category. I don’t say that to put myself down, just trying to keep things real. So, when I felt the Lord begin to prick my heart and lead me (our family) to the homeschool way of life I was just as surprised as my mama was when I told her.

When the Lord began dealing with me, I first talked to JKM about it and when he was totally supportive, I started doing a TON of research. Watching YouTube videos, reading blogs, looking into different curriculum, talking to the handful of mamas I know that are on the same path. (One thing I would like to add here – before the Lord put it on my heart I didn’t know anyone who was homeschooling but as soon as it was placed there I came into contact wish several women who have a huge passion for it. One in particular was a member of the church JKM helped in revival this summer and she helped me more than I can ever tell her. I will always be grateful for all the information she gave me & her willingness to answer so many of my questions!)

Once I accepted that this would be our new normal and was at absolute peace & felt total joy about our decision.. the devil showed up and tried to show out. He planted every seed of doubt and wormed his way into all the cracks in my weaknesses. I immediately began questioning if this was what the Lord was truly leading us to or if I had just decided all of this on my own. Family members started talking more about public school even knowing our homeschool plans and just became one negative thought after another. THEN I went back to the list I made when we first heard the call & it completely reiterated why this was for our family. (I will be posting the list in a separate post very soon).

I didn’t write this post to discount public school in any way. I’m a firm believer that if the Lord isn’t calling you to something, you should in no way pursue it. My husband and I both attended public school and know that it works for a lot of families. I just want to put my experience out there in case any other mamas (or daddies) are being called to homeschool and are also dealing with doubt & hesitation.

We are so excited to begin our journey this year with Mason starting PreK curriculum while he finishes his last year of preschool!

because of His grace,

Hannah

Heyyyyyyy girl heyyyyyy!

Its been a HOT minute since I updated this here blog. Like a year & two months in minute time. SO MUCH has happened. SO. MUCH. Let me give you a little run down….

2017

March : Packed up our first home & started fixing up our forever home.
April : Sold our house. Moved in with my parents for two weeks. Mason turned THREE.
May : Closed on our new house. Got out of credit card debt. Celebrated 5 years of marriage. B got his first tooth.
June/July : Settled into our new surroundings and did a few house projects. DIY for life. I turned 28.
August : We got our first farm animals! Two goats : Bertie & Gertie (RIP Bertie). Mason started preschool! Three days a week.
September : MKM went dove hunting for the first time. B went on his first beach trip to PCB.
October : Mace had his first ever field trip to a pumpkin patch. The boys experienced good ole Chuck E Cheese for the first time. JKM turned THIRTY!
November : We went to Disney & Sea World with my family! B turned ONE!
December : B’s first birthday party! The holidays were extra sweet with both boys being so excited about Santa. JKM started his trapping business.

2018

January : More DIY projects, MKM’s first trampoline park experience. Just for the record, he refused to jump & was terrified he would fall through the floor. hahaha.
February : B had his first sleepover without me. He did great, I did not. We painted our kitchen cabinets & ripped off our countertops.
March : Hosted a shower for my bff since 6th grade & her sweet boy. Went blonde. After many years, got my vinyl machine and made the boys Easter shirts myself.
April : First Easter in our forev home. Got a desk! MKM’s first donuts for dad was his favorite thing to date. We put our garden in! My first baby turned FOUR & got his long awaited red fourwheeler.
May : My first Mother’s Day Tea was my favorite thing ever. Mason knocked his front tooth out. We added to the farm! A pigmy donkey (Allie), a pig (Hamilton) & two fainting goats (Guss & Gruff). Mace finished his first year of preschool. We celebrated six years of wedded bliss with replacing all the windows in our house.
June : VBS. JKM’s first revival of the summer at Bethany Baptist. Our first MOD pizza experience. I chopped my hair off. My mama took the boys to build a bear for their first time where they both picked out Chase from Paw Patrol. We also road the carousel and it was a huge hit.
July : JKM helped his Daddy & Papa in revival at Bethel Baptist Church. Such precious memories! Our garden started producing. We bought an above ground pool for next year & I turned 29.

Well, there you have it! Now that we’re all caught up, let’s keep this thing moving shall we?

xoxo
Hannah