Here we go!!!!!!

Ben was practicing some t's here and I had him practice writing "to". It was his first day writing two letters together. He said, "Mom, can I just write toe?" Of course, I obliged! He's already reading and adding and subtracting, even though he's never been formally schooled in that. As a matter of fact, he read his first book he'll be learning in kindergarten to me the other day. It has 58 words in it and got them all but 2! Am I bragging? Certainly!!!!

For those of you who haven't heard, we have chosen to homeschool Ben and Anna Kate. Our decision has been prayed over and, honestly, God had to change my heart about it. Scott came to me last summer and asked if I would consider it and pray about it. There were so many negatives in my mind. I was troubled about social interaction, whether or not I could do it and whether the kids would be sheltered too much. I prayed about it for a couple of weeks and did some research on internet (have you ever tried to research something that important on dial-up?). I finally came to the conclusion that God was changing my heart to what Scott had always felt was important for his family. He had always wanted me to homeschool but I was always negative about it so he didn't push it. That's just like him...

The final straw was when we went to a local private school in the Portsmouth area. In order to send them there, I was going to have to go back to work, figure out how to get another car, figure out how to get them there and back with no other family in the area and after we checked it out, I realized I could do what they were doing. So, I relinquished. Now that I'm into it, I must admit, I am a little excited about it. Now that we are in a bigger town, I already have him involved at a local homeschool group that allows me to take Karley and Colton along and he loves it. He doesn't see me all day so it's good for his "socialization skills" and what's absolutely wonderful is that the group uses the gym area at River Cities!!! How great is that?

There has been one drawback so far...the negative comments I get! In my heart, I know how prayed over this decision is and I have total peace about it so I've quit giving all the excuses. Was it my idea in the beginning? Absolutely not! But I know that Scott and I strive to make decisions based on what we feel is the way God is leading in our lives. I know that Ben and Anna Kate are going to get a biblical based education without the cost of sending them to a christian school. I will still get to stay at home and do the "career" I always wanted so I say "Praise the Lord!"