I just know that there are some parents out there *today* wondering about home schooling their children in the fall (or even *next week*).  But you wonder if you can do.  If you are patient enough.  If you can live on one income.  Perhaps you are wondering if you are smart enough, too?

You know why you want to bring your children home.  Perhaps because of academic struggles, bullying, or wanting to be with your children more....

Right now, I want to encourage you about home educating your children.  You can do this.  You can try it out for a few months or a year.  You can live on less money.  Yes, you are smart enough.  Yes, it is worth it all to home school your children. 

I saw this great article earlier today that made me think of this - God Doesn't Always Call the Most Equipped - Sometimes He just calls those who love their children and will do what it takes. 

For whatever question you have, God has an answer for it. 

Will Home Schooling be easy?  Perhaps not. 

Will it be worth it?  Definitely. 

If God is calling you to Home Educate your children, He will help you do it and equip you as you start out on this journey of home schooling your children.  Need more support?  Find a local Home School Support Group.  Need more information?  Read some books or do a search online on how to Home School.  Check out the Home School Boards , also known as Supervising Agencies and decide who you want to notify with for next year. 

It is an awfully big decision, but you are thinking about it for such good reasons - your children.  They are worth all the effort, sacrifices and time it will take, and Home Schooling is worth it!

I forget about this reason sometimes, but someone reminded me of it the other day. 

We had gone to the Home School Swim in our area and I was visiting with another home schooler, while our kids were playing together.  I don't know her at all and it was interesting hearing how they home school their children.  She commented on the home schooled teenage girls in the pool and said they still have their innocence.  I said "Really?" and she said "Oh, Yes." and then she shared the below.

She shared about a friend of hers who doesn't homeschool and has a fourteen year old daughter in school.  That mom was sharing about some of their ongoing struggles amd had shared with the home school mom what her daughter asked her about the other day - which was a topic of discussion in her class that week.

I can't even tell you what the topic was here, but our mouths were open (after she shared) in shock and I was incredulous that would be a discussion with older teenagers OR adults, much less younger teenagers.  VERY inappropriate.  Very inappropriate. 

*By the way, we live in rural Alberta.  The small city that girl was going to school in, was a small city.  Not Edmonton.  Not Calgary.  Not even Red Deer.  We agreed that the easy internet access via phones and in homes has brought the filth of the world into homes.  None of our children have cell phones and it certainly is something to moniter if families do have them. 

AND we both agreed that we liked our children - even our younger and older teenagers - having that innocence about life. 

I know I hadn't thought about it lately, but it hit me pretty hard.  I love that others can see innocence in our kids.  I love that they aren't being exposed to inapporpriate thoughts / discussions / activities daily and that they have a purity about them. 

It's just one more reason to home school our children!