It's community.

When I started homeschooling four years ago, I honesty didn't know if it would last. I knew God was calling me to step out in obedience, but I certainly had a lot of questions. Emmalyn was only five years old, so how hard could it be, right (No one told me that teaching a child to read with a toddler running around is about the hardest thing EVER!)? Harrison was 2, I was working part-time out of the home three days a week, and that in and of itself was plenty enough reasoning for anyone to choose a different route of education. However; I was trusting that if He was calling me to it, He'd equip me for it. We dove in right away to Classical Conversations. Having done my research, I could quickly see that the curriculum was impressive and designed to take stress off parents feeling they have to find material for 7 subjects on their own. And that timeline song... I mean, who in the world can memorize a 13 minute song naming more than 200 historical events, people, and places? Well, turns out a five year old can. It was all such a blessing and so needed for this mama who was trying to navigate balancing a family, ministry, career, and teaching from home.

Fast-forward a few years later, and if you ask me now what I most value about Classical Conversations, it still is the curriculum, the timeline song, the tutors, the science experiments, the art projects, and all of those amazing things. But even more so, it's community. Its the mamas who have told me more times than I can count "you can't do this, but CHRIST IN YOU can." It's the sweet friendships my kiddos have made. It's the sweet friendships I have made! It's the conversations about God, His Kingdom, and His purposes that happen around our table at home because of what they're learning. It's friends passing around my baby boy at 4 months old, making him cackle and smile, while I tutor a room full of 5 and 6 year olds. It's not having to cook a meal in my kitchen for 3 whole weeks after Hampton was born because they made sure this mama could relish her children and rest. It's texts during the middle of the day like, "You are loved. How can I pray for you today?," and knowing that they truly mean it. It's the random/unplanned field trips to the park to let our kids play for hours while we vent to and learn from one another because everyone just needs to breathe. It's conversations full of wisdom with seasoned mamas homeschooling high schoolers promising "it gets easier and the sowing is worth it!" THIS is the value behind our homeschooling journey and this is what gives my heart strength on the hard days... knowing that He who calls us is faithful. His grace is with us, moving through those He's placed in our midst to pray, encourage, and spur us on!

Let's not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encourage one another and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity! Ps. 133:1

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20