Treasure

This morning something happened that I am sure has many hidden lessons.

I've mentioned elsewhere that my boys are fascinated by ancient history. The eldest (now nearly 6) is confident he wants to be an archaeologist. Everywhere he goes, he finds 'treasure'. Often this is old pieces of wire, broken pieces of pottery, but to him, these are precious and evidence of previous civilisations that capture his imagination. Recently they learnt about Pompeii, and also about some Biblical archaeology which relatively recently has verified things from the Bible which had been questioned by some historians. On a long road trip last week, we listened to an audiobook about pirates, and of course there was hidden treasure there too.

Whilst scrabbling about in some dirt in Dorset my other 5 year old produced a small coin, about the size of a penny. It just looked like a penny or indeed nothing at all. However, we took it home. We had noticed a slightly irregular margin and wondered whether it could actually be an ancient coin, but it was only this morning as we cleaned it up a little more and inspected it with a magnifying glass that we saw the writing Henri and realised it was a gold 'angel coin' from the era of Henry VIII. It is actually genuine treasure, which just confirms to the boys that there is treasure everywhere.

This was all very exciting, and much of the rest of the day was spent looking at coins, learning about the history of money, of hammered coins, of different currencies and uses in different cultures. Even as adults, there was just that sense of excitement that we had found treasure.

Jesus spoke of 'childlike faith' several times. Now, this did not refer to worldly things such as finding buried treasure (indeed the Bible warns against treasure on earth, reminding us that 'where your treasure is, there your heart will be also'). But there is something about the innocence of childhood that they do not believe anything to be impossible. They take things literally, and if the Bible says it to be true, it must be true. They don't have any difficulty with Jesus healing the sick, raising the dead, walking on water, calming the storm - because they know that He was God and of course He could do these amazing things. Of course He hears and answers our prayers. They have a beautiful acceptance in their faith that adults so often lack. We tend to look at the facts, at the circumstances, at what we think we 'know'. The children simply accept, believe and expect great things.

As adults it is very easy to dismiss their comments. A couple of years ago in autumn, as we strolled through a very familiar park, one of the 3 year olds said, 'Look at those apples' and our immediate response was, 'Don't be silly, there are no apple trees here'. But of course, they were apples and we went on to find half a dozen wild apple trees in that same park, and each autumn have foraged plenty. Even now I have a spiced apple cake baking in the oven made out of apple puree from last year.

As parents home educating our children we must be so careful not to quash their innocent questioning and not to dismiss comments that sounds off the wall, because they just might be right. For our boys, I think the fascination with ancient history has been firmly consolidated now, and I don't imagine they will ever forget the day that they genuinely found treasure. Or maybe they are simply thinking, 'of course there was treasure, there is treasure everywhere'. Maybe its the parents who will never forget!

Whatever is happening this week, I hope you are able to take the time to be challenged by and to learn from your children!

5 Encouragements

This blog has several purposes. One is to discuss and share resources and ideas relating to home education, particularly Christian home education. A second is to be a more personal reflection of the challenges and the joys that are encountered - with the aim of encouraging others in what can be an amazing adventure, but also at times a lonely and less travelled road. Thirdly, when life is busy (as it tends to become for all of us) I find it helpful to stop and reflect - to reassess priorities, to celebrate progress, to set goals and to learn and gain encouragement from others. This is one reason why I tend to blog on a Sunday evening - it is a helpful discipline for me to pause and consider.

This week has brought encouragement from several sources. In no particular order....

1) Today we invited some students who had recently started attending our church for Sunday lunch. Two of them had been home educated. It was encouraging for us to see young adults who have been home educated, and I think encouraging for them to enter a home which reminded them of their own childhood. Sunday lunch at our house is not often peaceful. My husband is an excellent cook, and there is always an interesting variety of food, but there is noise, mess and then a walk in a nearby park. I used to feel a bit ashamed of not having a model house. However, over the years I have come to realise that what people in our society lack most of all is a welcoming family home. For these students, I think they felt very at home, and I hope left refreshed and encouraged!

2) Earlier in the week I was introduced to a family who work as Bible translators in an area which is not all that safe for Christians. They are enjoying a short furlough in here, and it is also the first visit to the UK of their toddler son, with whom they are in the process of adoption. Again, it was so refreshing to meet with others who live with their greatest priority being the Kingdom of God. I have noticed that sometimes, once children are on the scene, even well meaning Christians can subtly (or not so subtly) undermine attempts to live sacrificially. Risk taking is seen as negligent, rather than a bold step of faith. I've written more about this recently. The Bible speaks of the importance of choosing our companions wisely. We are taught to be 'in the world but not of the world'. 'Do not be decieved: Bad company corrupts good character' (1 Cor 15:33) - sometimes it is not the really obviously bad company that I find such a challenge (it can be relatively easy to avoid this), but rather the lukewarm, compromising, worldly Christian company. Proverbs 27:17 reads 'as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens the countenance of his friend' - as Christians we can challenge, exhort and encourage one another to walk along the narrow path. That does not always need to involve 'deep and meaningful' conversations; for me, sometimes it is simply spending company with those whose priorities are clearly not of this world.

3) On Wednesday we took our two five year olds to a concert (Peer Gynt by Grieg, then Sibelius then Tchaikovsky). My more restless son was utterly transfixed - I don't think I have ever seen him so still or quiet. This reminded me that children all have their own interests and strengths, and that we shouldn't stereotype them into boxes. (It was also an advantage of home education that we had no issues with them being out until 22:30 on a 'school' night).

4) Yesterday we enjoyed a long hike (well, long if you are three years old - 7 Km and 450 metres of altitude) with a family who also have three boys. For me, one of the greatest pleasures is being outside in the fresh air. We can enjoy the beauty of God's creation and all the small hassles of day to day life can just be forgotten about for a time. We have been very blessed to meet other families with similar attitudes and interests, because for quite a long time we felt very strange for spending so much time out of doors! It is also encouraging when you see other parents who have similar standards of discipline, and who will appropriately reprimand their children should the need arise. I  would make similar comments to those under item number 2 above - that often we can encourage one another simply through sharing our lives together. This is an important point - one of the challenges my Christians friends have made regarding home education is that I would not have enough time for 'ministry' - and often that refers to spending one on one time with younger Christians or those in need, perhaps reading the Bible together or working through a Christian book. I would agree that I don't have the ability to do those things during this season of life. but I do think a whole set of new opportunities open up. I was really persuaded of this during several months in a West African village.

5) And relating to that point, we for a walk by the river with a couple of home educating families that we know from the local group. A friend of mine who is a student was having a tough day, and so we invited her along. It was probably the best thing for her - to be outside with eight young children enjoying the early spring sunshine, fresh air, building sandcastles, getting muddy and just enjoying some freedom. In fact, she told me afterwards that this was more encouraging and helpful than it would have been to sit down and talk about the things that were on her mind.

So in summary, this week has reminded me of several things:

1) The importance of living first and foremost for the Kingdom of God, and of modelling that to our children

2) The joy of Christian fellowship, and how we can encourage one another through sharing our lives as much as through our words

3) That our children are intrinsic to our Christian lives and service, and have a vital role in ministering to others. We do them a great disservice if we ever consider them an inconvenience or to be 'getting in the way'

4) That our children continue to surprise us with their learning styles and aptitudes - that it is not right to try and define them too precisely (yes, I know understanding a little about learning styles can be helpful, but I am meaning that we should not put them into boxes).

How have you been encouraged this week?

Challenge of the week

So this Sunday evening we've enjoyed some time off together. Sunday is the only day that we don't work (unless we are on the rota for clinical duties, because of course patients still become acutely unwell on the Sabbath, and the Bible is quite clear that if there is a pressing need - the example given is if your sheep were to fall into a ditch on the Sabbath - that it is OK to work). It probably warrants a separate post at another time, because even this evening we were talking about how few people seem to have a correct Biblical understanding of the Sabbath, and how rather than being a rule or ritual, God provides it for our benefit and freedom.

Anyway, at the time of day when I would usual be blogging, we were sitting by the fire talking about our hopes, dreams and expectations. These last six months have been a little crazy for a range of reasons, and the next few months may be unusual was we both settle into new job patterns whilst preparing for another major move. Tonight seemed like the first time in months that we had just sat and talked. It was a real blessing and encouragement.

I don't blog a lot about marriage, but a friend of mine, Jess Connell does. I would highly recommend her blog as she discusses a lot of issues that Christian women need to consider, but which are not always discussed in churches and ladies' meetings. I really enjoyed one of her posts this week, on the opposite of the Titus 2 woman. Her argument is that often you understand something best when you consider the exact opposite of what is being said. So read this post, and be challenged. I certainly was!

Priorities and worldview

I enjoyed today's sermon. It was on Psalm 73. The basic summary is that the psalmist is having a hard time, and looking around and seeing others who seem to have an easier, more comfortable life but who do not know God. At first, he is envious and a bit confused about why God should let 'bad things happen to good people', until he comes into the presence of God and sees the bigger picture. There, he is reminded that what is seen is temporary and what is unseen is eternal. Our life here, for better or for worse, for easier or for harder, is only a small part of the bigger picture.

It was a helpful reminder. Even though I know these things, there are times when it is easy to look sideways and to covet what somebody else has - whether that be peace, or a seemingly more supportive extended family, or different opportunities, or many other things. But the amazing thing is that God knows what we need, and He knows what He is doing. Sometimes hard things do happen - illnesses, disappointments, frustrations, bereavements, loneliness, persecutions, financial uncertainty, challenges in the workplace - and God knows these things will happen. But God does not change, and often through these hardships we have to trust Him more, and focus more on the greatest things of all - not material things, not health, not status or popularity, but God Himself. I enjoyed peacefully reflecting on how good and wise God is, and on His amazing provision and faithfulness to our family through the years. (And I was able to reflect peacefully as my boys are now able to sit well through the service and to listen and learn from the sermon too - something which I am thankful for, and thankful to my husband for making this a priority from when they were tiny - our reasons for this are commented on here and here).

I particularly enjoy coming home after church and asking the boys what they have learnt. We ask them to draw something which depicts an aspect of the sermon, and it can be quite interesting to see what the different children come up with. Today we did not have time to draw as we had visitors, but it was a very helpful passage to talk through.

It has also been interesting to consider sources of encouragement and discouragement. This week I was very encouraged by some text messages from a single friend who really seems to understand why we have made the choices we have with regard to the boys education and the things which we avoid exposure to (such as television). Her housegroup had been discussing the saying 'give me a child until he is seven and I'll give you the man', attributed to St Francis Xavier, and some older ex-missionaries had adopted a lifestyle similar to ours - even years ago, seen as counter cultural and a bit odd, but spiritually so profitable. Conversely, I sometimes feel discouraged regarding our choices by people within the church - when we first returned from overseas there were quite a few negative remarks about our house (it is a perfectly well situated three bedroom house with a large kitchen, which God has blessed us with and where we've had much opportunity for hospitality). Lately, because of the stage my husband and I have reached with work, there is also a subtle indication that we would be 'expected' to change lifestyle slightly. It frustrates me because things should not be that way, but frustrates me even more because I realised this morning that I had allowed myself to be subtly influenced by these lies. So this morning's sermon was perfectly timed enabling me to re-set the compass and focus again on what we believe God has called us to. (I must also learn from this too - that it can be easy to cause another to stumble, without necessarily meaning to. And similarly, to remember that we can build up and encourage others who have very different walks of life to our own - all part of the beauty of being part of a family of believers).

So this evening, I simply want to remind you that God is good. He knows what you need. Read Matthew Chapter 6, and consider how He really does know all your needs, but that your priority is to seek to live for Him first of all, and to trust Him for the rest.

New Year Reflection

Do you set 'new year resolutions'? I used to when I was younger, but over time I have come to realise that if something needs to be changed, the time to start is today. I also know that many goals actually take time to achieve, and to seek to suddenly change habits, bring in a healthier lifestyle, mend relationships, take up a new hobby and always to speak kindly and lovingly to others is simply a recipe for failure, disappointment and discouragement. I believe that as Christians, we are in a process of being transformed into the likeness of Christ - but that this is a lifelong process which will have triumphs and setbacks along the way.

Having said that, I do like to take time at new year to reflect on the year gone by and broadly consider the year ahead. Recently I've posted on some of the encouragements we have enjoyed; whilst I believe it is important to think and speak positively, like every family we face challenges from time to time (and indeed that was one of the reasons I started this blog a couple of years ago).

Areas of Encouragement:

1) I am pleased with how Bible education is so fundamental to the structure of our family life. Every day begins and ends with a time of Bible reading, prayer and often singing. No matter what we have planned for that day, or no matter what kind of day it has turned out to be, this is as much part of our daily routine as brushing our teeth or eating. When I read about challenges faced, I realise that many families find a regular family devotional time a struggle. For us, it is important that this never just becomes part of the daily routine with no deeper meaning or value, and it is something we pray about daily. If this is something you struggle with, here are some tips that we have found helpful:

• It can be short. At first, we would just read a psalm together after breakfast
• Whilst I try to have the boys sitting with me on the sofa, I sometimes let the two year old play on the floor whilst we read - there are times when it is more important that we have quiet for the older two than try in vain to have all three sitting perfectly. (However, we do try to get them used to sitting together nicely at this time - it reaps dividends on Sunday mornings in church because it is so much part of our daily life.)
• I ask the boys what they would like to read - they are coming to know and love many of the Bible stories, and there are days when they want a particular story. When their attention is on it, they can listen for long periods
• We use the 'adult' Bible - usually the New King James, but sometimes the NIV. I've commented on this elsewhere, but I think there is a tendency to dumb things down for children a bit too much these days, and if we use a childrens' Bible, they often get distracted by things that are not actually in the Bible (such as one where Goliath shouts to the Israelites, 'I am going to eat you on toast!') - we do have several childrens' Bibles with different levels of English and different styles of illustration, and I think these are a helpful adjunct and we often use these, but when it comes to family devotional time, we find it much easier and less distracting to stick entirely to Scripture
• If there is a particular thing that has happened, or something we are struggling with, I try to find a relevant passage - this helps the boys to see that Scripture is timeless and applies to all situations. They realise that our God is a living God who cares about the details of their lives
• We try to choose songs that tie in with what we have been reading
• At night, we follow more of a structure, reading through a particular book

2) Their education is taking a bit of shape. For quite a while I wondered whether we should be using a curriculum or just maximising the opportunities in daily life. Without really realising it, we have formed a pattern that works well for us - so well that we keep going on Saturdays, or when we are on holiday, very much because (quoting Charlotte Mason), 'education is an atmosphere, education is a life'. Now, we have reached the point of looking at materials and we are quite excited to be starting Sonlight in the new year (we have not yet chosen the specific materials, but I've been enjoying their Forums and some local Facebook pages for advice). We have chosen this because our learning tends to be very literature based - we spend many hours cuddled up on the sofa reading, and particularly enjoy 'living books'. I am pleased when I reflect on how things have evolved, because one of the joys of home education is that each family is different, each child is different, and each pace is different - it would not be right to do something simply because others do, or to reach some kind of imposed target, but rather because it is what helps your children learn (and enjoy learning!).

3) I've written elsewhere about travel. For the past 10 years, we have been a mobile family, and to be honest have never really felt 'at home' back in the UK. When I reflect on this, I understand that as Christians, our true home is not really in this world at all. The boys are quite content to move between cities and between countries, and I particularly enjoy seeing them grow with a global worldview and perspective. We have some helpful resources from Operation Mobilisation (a map on the wall with statistics and figures, and a childrens' version of Operation World); the children understand how blessed they are with so much materially and a stable family home, and are learning that there are others who have far less. One of our sons was briefly in an orphanage, and now that he is five there are sometimes more questions asked. We receive calendars every year from the charity which tell the stories of other children who have been looked after by the orphanage, and I hope we are providing a balanced perspective of the situation.

Challenging Areas

Whilst seeking to focus mainly on that which is good, there are some things which remain quite a challenge:

1) Discipline. There are days when it seems that the whole day is devoted to correcting and disciplining the children. Sometimes it seems we can't even move on with the more interesting educational activities I have planned because there is so much need to talk to the boys as individuals, spank when necessary, sit them on the bottom stair, have them tidy up the messes they have made and so forth. It can seem that we are just getting over one problem when something else happens and round and round it goes. I find these days quite exhausting. I also know that these are the times when I have to watch my own attitudes and motives, particularly if I am tired or unwell. I must take care not to discipline in anger. What reassures me (at least a little) is when I read other blogs or home education pages and realise that other families feel like this at times too. And whilst there are days when I find myself wondering whether they would not be better off out at mainstream school, when I actually think about it, I realise that one big advantage of home education is that we can devote the time that is needed to character formation. And that as Christians, we can pray about all these things and teach the children to rely on the strength that God can give.

2) Loneliness. I think some of it is simply a phase of life. My husband and I both work part time (which can be 30-50 hours in a week, involving antisocial shifts and quite a bit of work in the evenings).  (This itself can make us seem a bit different, in both our church/ Christian communities and also in the workplace. The key thing is, that we are 'fully persuaded' that this is the right pattern for our family at this present time) The children are still young and quite dependent, so it can be difficult to have a conversation (by phone or face to face) when they are around, and often once they are asleep, there is other work, or tidying/shopping or planning to be done, so we don't spend much time in relationships. We moved church about a year ago after returning to the UK, and although it is on our doorstep, don't really feel that we have deep, encouraging relationships there either. I don't know how much is because we are a bit different, how much is the pace of our lives, or whether there is something we also need to change. With the coming new year, both of our jobs will change, perhaps becoming a bit more regular. We are praying for wisdom in how we use our time, and that we can build relationships with those around us.

3) Sleep/ tiredness! I have always thought we had quite good sleep patterns (all 3 have always napped together, and have the same bedtime). But over the past year (or maybe a bit longer?) the middle boy has woken shortly after 5. And once he is awake, he decides the world should be awake with him, and will sing at the top of his voice, make frequent bathroom trips and try to wake his brothers. We spend the next couple of hours periodically getting him to go back to bed until it is really morning. It sounds a small thing, but over time it does get quite exhausting. (We are usually up in the night with the youngest too, but that isn't quite as irritating because it is just for a toilet trip and he then goes straight back to sleep). It is something that can try our patience, and we need to be careful that we get enough rest (and if worn out, try hard not to allow this to make us grumpy!). We don't tend to talk about tiredness (because who isn't tired? And it can so easily degenerate into moaning, self-pity and competitive 'I'm more tired than you' type conversations that never helped anybody). But these past couple of weeks, whilst we've all had a succession of viral illnesses, it has been tough!

There have been more challenges and encouragements and there is plenty more to reflect upon as the New Year beckons. But for now, I am going offline and plan to enjoy a peaceful evening with my husband! Happy New Year!

5 More Advent Encouragements

As with last week, we have been busy enjoying Advent and preparing for Christmas. I have not had much time for reading, but as I stop and reflect (sitting by an open fire and listening to beautiful choral music), I am thankful for many things. Some specific encouragement this week have been:

1) Last night we had two other families round to sing Christmas carols. This was quite a new experience for one of the families. Nine children aged five and under played various kinds of percussion instruments, and it probably sounded quite unusual to anybody who heard. But we did not care, but rather enjoyed rejoicing together as we celebrate the greatest event in history.

2) Our local Christian home educators' group had a Christmas party. I have greatly enjoyed the fellowship that this group provides. We come from a fairly wide geographical area, but try to arrange something every fortnight. Between us, we have a range of ages of children (probably more younger than teenagers) and use a variety of curricula and teaching methods. Our lives are often quite different, but we share the desire to raise our children to know the Lord and to have a biblical worldview, and it is sometimes encouraging simply to know there are others who choose to live this way in our godless society.

3) Our boys' first Nativity play. A nearby church attended by many of our friends held a 'Nativity from Scratch' today. We dropped the five year olds at 10am with a packed lunch and returned to watch the play at 3pm. This was great for several reasons. Firstly, it was very relaxing for my husband and I to have a day with just our two year old. We were able to talk! Secondly, it was the longest time our boys have ever been without us, and they managed well - this is good for their confidence. Thirdly, it was a lovely, simple, Christ-focussed Nativity play, and the boys really enjoyed being part of it (they were angels)

4) Peace and security. Listening to the news has been horrible for the past few months - it seems there are so many awful things happening in many parts of the world. Ebola. Terrorism. Ruthless murder of children. Fear. Racial and religious hatred. I am thankful that I can enjoy comfort, warmth, peace, choice, freedom and relationships. It is easy to feel guilty, but I think a better approach is to simply live one day at a time. I know so many families where life has changed overnight. It has happened to us, and could do again. But for now, I can rest and be thankful. And we can pray that as we approach Christmas that the message of peace and hope would not be empty, but that it will be heard as a powerful and life-transforming truth to those who are lost.

5) That my boys do seem to be developing a Biblical worldview that often surprises me. I've mentioned the Jesse tree project in several places, but this has been one of the most worthwhile things we have done, and has taken on a bit of a life of its own. It will certainly become a family tradition. My five year old was asking about the exile to Babylon earlier, and is starting to understand that through history, God had a plan to preserve His remnant, and that even now, in days which can seem dark and godless, His perfect plans have not changes. Jesus would often speak about 'little children' and how we can learn a lot from their innocent trust. I am learning from my boys as they grasp concepts which many older people struggle more with. There have been days when home educating is tiring, and even times when one might be tempted to question whether it really is worth the investment and whether it really is the best thing for the children. Some of the conversations, comments and insights over the past few weeks have encouraged me greatly that there is fruit developing in their young lives.

5 Encouragements

It's a busy time of year for most families, and we ran into it from a fairly itinerant schedule over the autumn. But amidst some tiredness, and several weeks of back-to-back viral illnesses, there have been some great encouragements!

1) Children celebrating the coming Christ! Last year we enjoyed preparing for Christmas and the boys learned songs and verses, but somehow they didn't really seem to 'get it' (the eldest was only 4). This year there has been a real shift in understanding, and it has been wonderful to see. Our firstborn never saw a Christmas, and I used to watch other families enjoying noise, mess, craft, songs, and general childlike enthusiasm with a wistful longing; yesterday, as a friend visited with her firstborn baby, I realised we had become that chaotic (but hopefully fun!) family. Having known sorrow and loss somehow makes each moment seem even more precious.

2) Alongside the excitement, seeing how the boys have a grounding in what Christmas really means. This brings me great encouragement because there are so many conflicting messages from the world around us, and even as we try to avoid exposure to the more blatent of these, there are constant bombardments (the person on the bus who asks them, 'Have you written to Santa yet?', or 'Have you been a good boy this year, so Santa brings your presents?', or 'What are you going to get for Christmas?'; billboard advertisements; conversations of friends and their children.....) It encourages me that it is possible to instill a Biblical worldview even in today's world.

3) Friendships - I particularly love the way Christians from all over the world are our brothers and sisters. We have recently had two families (each with three similarly aged children to ours) move to our city from different cultures, and yet we immediately can share rich fellowship. I often think of the descriptions of heaven in the Book of Revelation - that God's people will come from 'every tribe and tongue and people and nation' (Revelation 5:9); one day we will be united with our true family from all around the world and the rejoicing will be incredible!

4) Health. For these past three or four weeks we have all been generally unwell. Nothing serious, but enough to need time at home to rest and the youngest has lost a bit of strength. As parents, we have had to try and find enough rest ourselves in between our jobs and looking after sick children. So basically everything non-essential has fallen by the wayside. But now we are on the mend, and as I recover my energy and enthusiasm, it makes me thankful that in general our family does enjoy good health. It makes me appreciate how difficult things must be for parents with chronic, debilitating illnesses, or for parents who are nursing chronically ill children.

5) The way children seem to learn in a step-wise manner. It probably is not truly that way, but sometimes, after weeks of working on something or trying to explain something, the penny suddenly drops and they embrace the concept. This happened with my older five year old about six months ago regarding drawing detailed pictures of things. It has happened this week with my younger five year old regarding writing - he suddenly sees the value of it, and there have been several times I have found him sitting at the table doing extra writing just for fun. It is a reminder that we need to persevere  and continue consistently even when there aren't obvious immediate results.

I know this time of year can almost become too busy. I pray that you and your family are able to focus on those things that really matter, that Christ remains at the centre of your Christmas celebrations and that you are able to enjoy precious time with loved ones.

Jesse Tree

I recently posted about our plans for advent and to try the Jesse Tree project. Four days in, I am really delighted with how well this is going, and would recommend it. The boys come downstairs excited to open the envelope for the day. On a couple of days, I have put extra activities and colouring sheets in with the 'emblems' for the tree, and that has worked well. I have also been surprised and encouraged by how well they are starting to understand Scripture in context. There have been several times where I have reflected that we can tend to stereotype our children in terms of what they might find interesting or what they might understand at a certain age. When talking about the shoot from the stump of Jesse, we started to discuss genealogies, and he absolutely loved the genealogy of Christ in Matthew Chapter 1. In fact he has asked to read it several times. I must confess that this is a portion of the Bible which does not always excite and inspire me (although if I really think about it, I am of course amazed by the perfect plan and sovereignty of God throughout history, throughout the dark times). But my son really seems to understand something from it, and that encourages me. This type of occurrence reminds me of all the reasons we are home educating, and I look forward to seeing how they progress in their understanding of the gospel as we systematically look through the lineage of Christ and learn more about God's redeeming work.

Scottish History 'Field Trip'

We are enjoying an impromptu 'module' on Scottish history! I recently described the opportunities that come form having a slightly hectic and itinerant schedule. So I currently find myself in a farm cottage in central Scotland, and the boys and I are making day-trips whilst my husband stays home and works on various distance-learning tasks. It's been great!

Highlights so far:

1) Walking up a steep hill to discover two cannons and the 'beheading stone'. The boys of course wanted to know who was beheaded there, and I had no idea....

2) As well as checking on the internet for information (they boys still haven't realised we look up their tricky questions overnight to supply answers in the morning!) the following day we went to Doune Castle. If you had opportunity, it is a gem! Unique in that it represents a single period in history rather than having been refashioned through the ages, it was the hunting lodge of Kings James I-III. And whilst we were there, we found that it was Murdoch, earl of Lennox, his sons and father in law who were beheaded by their cousin King James I.

3) Stirling Castle itself is well worth a visit. High on a hill, overlooking much of central Scotland, you can really understand the strategic importance of the city as the ancient capital. It is one thing to explain military strategy in words, but so much easier and more captivating to stand on the battlements and be able to see for many miles and understand how one could see enemy invaders for miles around. (And I got to take an international teleconference about one of my studies at the castle, whilst my husband took a break from his work!)

4) Climbing Dollar Gorge to Castle Campbell. This was interesting, because it was very hard, steep walking for boys aged 5, 4 and 2, even though they are accustomed to much physical activity. It made us question why on earth there was a castle in such a remote, difficult terrain. But hiking up to it really made the boys appreciate its situation (and it was breathtakingly beautiful; we are in the midst of a crisp, cold, colourful autumn.

5) That the boys are keen to record, in writing and drawing, their experiences and impressions of what they have seen and done. People sometimes think us harsh because 'school' never really stops, but my understanding is that this is in keeping with Charlotte Mason (and many other educationalists') philosophy that 'education is a life'. It doesn't start and stop. Technically we are 'on holiday' and yet this week has been more richly educational than many others.

6) Later in the week - plan to visit Bannockburn - apparently the new visitor centre has some great interactive activities that will be good for the children. (I'll report back - often I find that things that are described as 'good for children' are dumbed down and involve lots of media and flashing lights and displays which we find a little unnecessary and unhelpful!)

7) Living on a farm - I've written about this before, but we see many things which remind us of where our food comes from, the cycles of life (including animal slaughter), the seasons and help us understand some of the biblical parables about sowers and farming.

This post is mainly to encourage you - everything is an opportunity. We have not spent much time at the table (probably 20 minutes per day) but we've embraced many educational opportunities which I am sure will be more lasting than my attempts to explain concepts verbally would have been. Visiting the castles and talking long, challenging walks up to them has really brought a lot of Scottish history to light (and I must confess, I am learning more than I ever knew, even though I spent my childhood not too far from here!)

Antipsalm: The wife of ignoble character

I've previously commented how much I appreciate the wisdom and encouragement from Jess Connell's blog; she cuts to the heart of contemporary issues facing wives and mothers, and draws perfectly from Scripture to challenge our heart attitudes. She writes with humility, gentleness and wisdom.

This evening I read her 'anti-psalm', a reversal of the 'excellent wife' of Proverbs 31. Sometimes by considering an opposite, you really start to appreciate more of the truth. This has both challenged and encouraged me because I find that our society (and even many within our churches) do not value faithful service in the home. Even within the church, there is a tendency to speak ill of family members (often partly in jest, but with disrespectful undertones), to crave 'me' time, to not appreciate the traditional activities of keeping home, cooking, mending, offering hospitality, being well organised, being frugal and thrifty (these words are often interpreted as a person being stingy or mean, but in fact are an outworking of stewardship of our God-given resources which enables us to be more generous and to be able to share and bless others with such resources). Often it is not considered the best use of time to aim to undertake these things to an excellent standard. So often there is an unspoken message that we would be so much better off using our talents outside the home, or perhaps that as home educating parents we are missing out on gospel opportunities which we might have if we were less focussed on our own family.

I won't say more, but simply (with Jess's permission) am reposting her 'anti-psalm'. Her full Blog post on this is here.

A terrible wife is a dime a dozen.

She is common– easily found.

Her husband feels tense; his heart is never fully at rest around her. She blows through his resources and squanders his contributions. There’s never anything left over, to invest or to give. The tight finances point to a larger reality: he can’t really trust her.

She spends more time and energy tearing him down than building him up. Every day of her whole life is spent making him worse off.

She sits around, aimlessly waiting for opportunities. Her hands are idle, because nothing magically comes her way on its own.

She does the bare minimum necessary to contribute to the nourishment and care of her family (and sometimes, not even that!). She can’t be expected to go to great lengths to bless her household.

She sleeps in, and uses her time poorly. Her household often gets to mealtime without anything planned or prepared.

She buys things on a whim– spending money on possessions rather than purposeful, long-range investments.

She’s weak-willed and weak-bodied, and thus, unwilling and unable to do the things God has put on her plate.

Her efforts are spent unprofitably, on things that don’t bring fruit.

If she’s up late, she’s doing impractical, useless things or spending her free time as “me time.”

Her skills are few, if any, and what she does do is careless and done poorly.

She can’t afford to be generous. The money’s all gone because she’s spent it on other things.

Her heart and hands are turned inward. Whatever her words say, the result of her actions and inaction reveal that her own desires eclipse the needs of others in her heart.

The thought of tragedy or difficulty makes her anxious and fearful because she hasn’t properly prepared her home, her family, and herself for these possibilities.

She doesn’t actively put her mind and creativity to work on improving the basic, everyday things in her home.

Her husband is ridiculed and thought ill of in their community because of how poorly she’s talked about him. Others don’t respect him, because his wife doesn’t either.

She spends her time and energies aimlessly and fruitlessly.

She puts money in the pockets of merchants, rather than the other way around.

Weakness, irresponsibility, and indecency are her clothing.

She churns with anxiety and fear about the future.

Her words are foolish; people around her are negatively influenced by her cynicism and critical attitude. Bitterness and judgments about others regularly spew from her lips.

She’s stressed and concerned about all manner of things, but oblivious to the realities of what’s happening inside her own heart and home. There, her exhaustion and stress boil over into laziness and inaction.

Her children rise up and can’t wait to get away from her. They curse her.

Her husband also, and he can’t find anything good to say.

A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised,

But this woman’s charm is deceitful, and her beauty is in vain.

Her hands are fruitless, and leave her nothing to enjoy or be praised for.

Travel and opportunity

These past few weeks have involved quite a lot of travelling around. Interestingly, I found a Facebook page called Home Education Travels, and it is a forum for people who move around a lot whilst home educating their children. Sometimes people ask us how we manage to juggle two part-time (but often ~30-40 hours/week) clinical and academic careers whilst homeschooling, but in fact I think it would be a lot harder to juggle if we were constrained by typical length school days and the academic calendar.

Recent opportunities have included:

1) A conference in Chester, which is a city in the north of England full of Roman remains, old city walls and beautiful architecture. Our hotel was directly opposite the Roman amphitheatre and on several occasions 'Roman soldiers' would pass through. My eldest in particular is fascinated by ancient Rome and so we packed some relevant books and his notepad and magnifying glass.

2) Medical education in Fife. For me the highlight was St Andrews - the ancient cathedral was quite incredible to behold; apparently it was once the biggest building in the country. I was encouraged when the boys wanted to go back to see it the following day, but in fact this was because they had found a dead pigeon, not to do with the magnificent architecture or inspiring history. Ach well... I loved walking along the beach at sunset - so peaceful, so beautiful. It was where they filmed Chariots of Fire, the dramatisation of the story of Eric Liddell who refused to run competitively on a Sunday. The boys know this story, and it brought it to life a little bit.

3) Wild camping in the English lake district. Due to some swaps in our shifts, the boys were able to travel up and pitch camp during the day, and I arrived after dark. We then climbed together with head torches, pitched a second tent in the dark and spent the night on a mountain. The boys have loved reading the Swallows and Amazons series of novels which tell of children who spent their holidays in the Lake District around 90 years ago. They found it exciting that they might be camping in the very same spot! I was impressed at how well they climbed, and how well behaved they were whilst tents were going up and down, and whilst climbing the steep parts. (We couldn't have done this if they boys had been 'in school' or if we were working completely regular hours).

What I love when I speak to other home educating families is how we are all different from one another, and have different patterns, different passions, different perspectives. For us, our life and work cannot easily be separated - it is our medical work that takes us all over the country and back and forward to Africa. Our motivation is to help and serve the most vulnerable, wherever they might be, and this is intertwined with the outworkings of our faith. The boys are involved in all of this, and it brings its own set of opportunities too. Probably all parents who teach have their own strengths - our boys love experiments, which are sometimes very scientific (such as making chromatograms of chlorophyll using filter paper and acetone) and sometimes just seem to involve lots of mess and tipping of water from one container to another. I am impressed by their enquiring minds. Writers such as John Holt really celebrate the natural curiosity and ingenuity of the child's mind, and I so much hope and pray that this hunger for understanding never gets stifled. I see them asking logical questions and searching for solutions, and this contrasts greatly with my own education where I simply memorised facts in order to do well in exams, or re-iterated material in beautifully presented, but completely unoriginal projects.

These past few weeks I have felt very tired, yet in the face of that, the boys have really flourished in some areas. I pray that we have wisdom in the choices we make, in the responsibilities we take on, and that we are able to respond to their questions as they arise. I remain utterly thankful that our family has made the choice to home educate, and even when feeling exhausted, I see so many benefits. Tonight I am simply pausing to reflect, and to celebrate some of the joys of the past few weeks.

My eldest (aged 5) told me the other day that he doesn't want to be a doctor when he grows up. He wants to be an explorer. That sounds good to me!

Encourage one another

I recently posted about contentment, and recognising that God gives each one of us sufficient grace every day for our unique circumstances. When feeling under pressure, there is nothing better than to take time to reflect on what the Bible teaches us about God's amazing, father-like provision.

We spent the afternoon with some of our friends who also home school their children. There is much to be said for finding a community who can encourage and strengthen you as you make choices that often seem strange and foreign to many of those around you. We spent most of the time just keeping an eye on a lively bunch of children aged six and under as they climbed trees, dug in the soil for worms, harvested wild apples, travelled to a far off land on a Viking longboat (that part being imaginary, the rest real!) and got into the occasional scuffle. We talked a bit about phonics (some of us very against the method, others in favour, others neutral!), elementary mathematics for boys using objects that can be manipulated visuo-spatially, overseas travel and relationships.

These friends were surprised when I commented that I felt isolated. They then both admitted that they felt similarly, but hadn't realised I did. Their reasons were that I seem well organised, seem to know a lot of people, seem very active and generally get on with life. But in some ways, can this be a reason for isolation at times? There have been quite a number of occasions over the past few years when I have tried very hard to tell people I have a need of some kind or other, but it seems as though I am speaking a slightly different language and I am not heard. Today, we talked a little about how as home educating families, we are often pro-actively involved in our churches and communities, often (at least aim to!) have an open and welcoming home with plenty of food on the table and listening ears (or if not the ability to listen wholeheartedly, plenty of opportunity for distraction from the troubles of life!). These are all good things that we should not seek to change. But can it make us more isolated?

I don't have an easy answer or a neat, punchy conclusion to this post, and I'm sure it is something I will revisit. But here are a couple of thoughts to start with:

1) We really do need community! One of my temptations when feeling different and misunderstood is to isolate myself further, and thus ensues a vicious cycle. This is not right, not biblical, and can lead to feelings of bitterness which are sinful.

2) We need a small group of friends with whom we can be honest. The book of Proverbs has much wisdom about the choosing of friends or advisors, and also cautions against being too open with too many people. But we should choose friends that we can share our burdens with honestly. We should be able to pray for one another. And sometimes we don't support one another in their needs because we simply don't realise they are there. I wonder as home educators whether there are times when we feel we need to project an aura of capability? One thing we talked briefly about today was how it can be difficult to ask for help with childcare, such as to visit the doctor, or even to spend one on one time with a person who might benefit from that. We hear the unspoken, 'If you would just put them in school, then you wouldn't need help here' or occasionally comments to that effect. But the fact is, just because we homeschool does not make us super-human or immune from human frailties and needs. Indeed, one could argue that we perpetuate the myth by being reticent to share our needs! Similarly, it can be difficult to admit that our children are testing our patience at times. I was somehow reassured to realise I was not alone in this, but became more aware that it is a real problem at times.

3) We should seek to bear one another's burdens. This means thinking about those close to us, and how we can better encourage them. Jesus tells us to do unto others as we would have them do unto us (Luke 6:31). We are reminded to go the extra mile with others (Matthew 5:41). We are to encourage one another, and consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds (Hebrews 10:24)

4) Jesus tells us that through showing genuine love for one another, others will recognise the truth of His saving grace in our lives (John 13:34). Ways of showing this love are getting to know one another properly, listening carefully, actually asking how we can help and support, looking for ways to do random acts of kindness for one another

5) I'm aware that in churches we can often focus on those who are obviously 'needy' in some ways. I am not saying that these people should by any means be neglected, but that we must also remember to pray for and seek to serve and encourage those who seem to be strong. If I can feel isolated and struggle and not even my closest friends have realised, then there are probably many others in the same situation.

Like I said, no easy answers but some issues that those of us who are involved in communities of home educators should be aware of as we truly seek to encourage one another on this adventure which is so very worthwhile, but at times also the biggest challenge we have ever known.

If you've got experience of this, or wisdom to share- please do leave a comment!

10 Encouragements

When I have had less time to blog, I find it helpful to simply stop and think of all the recent things I am thankful for. I believe we often have a choice about how we think about situations, and as Christians home educating, I think there is always much to be thankful for, even during the tiring days.

1) Flexibility in our work, enabling us both to continue in jobs we love whilst having one parent home at all times (the spin off lately has been that we have both been working unusual shift patterns including nights and shifts ending in the small hours of the morning, so we have not actually seen much of one another). But the boys get a different set of adventures and routines during these periods, and this brings different educational opportunities.

2) A wonderful afternoon in the park with some other local home educating families. I think we had five adults and thirteen young children. It was exhausting, but amazing to see their boundless energy and the number of different adventures that can be had in a simple local park. This makes me reflect on how little time most children these days have to simply roam free, to explore, to learn about nature, to get grubby hands and grazed knees, to wear out their shoes and trousers....It was great to see their freedom.

3) Our online community - we have a local Facebook page of Christian Home Educators, and this can be a great supplement to meeting face to face. Often when we physically meet up, we are so involved with the children and the current activities that we cannot discuss, for example, what handwriting or maths resources we prefer. But we can continue those discussions online, sharing links, resources, wisdom etc.

4) Health and strength. Last time I did this chaotic working pattern I was still unwell with vomiting, and it made it much more difficult. Although the work was intense and challenging, I felt well and that was something to be very thankful for.

5) Being able to attend church as a family before heading to bed. Hearing my sons sing about how God is 'indescribable' at the very tops of their voices, and feeling thankful that they love to sing to God.

6) Reading Christian biographies to my children and hearing them ask increasingly relevant and important questions. My prayers are that I can answer these succinctly and wisely in an age appropriate manner, and that the boys are able to understand these truths and incorporate them into their developing worldview

7) Springtime. Ducklings and baby coots. Blossom and flowers. Fresh air. Sunshine (although not yet warm!). Freedom to run. Longer light evenings (that too has a flipside as the boys are struggling to sleep when it is 'still light').

8) Museums, libraries, art galleries - the vast resources that are free and easily accessible living in a moderately sized UK city. Sometimes these things can be taken for granted, but our recent time in Africa reminded us that we should make the most of them whilst we are in places where they exist.

9) A colleague at work having spotted my boys and husband on the bus remarking to me that 'they must be home educated, because no other four year olds are so well behaved and have such a good vocabulary'. I don't know that they are always impeccably behaved, but I also am aware that as parents we tend to see the negatives rather than celebrate the achievements. I was also encouraged that home education was considered a perfectly normal, and indeed a positive choice.

10) That God gives us sufficient strength for every day, and even when weary there is much to be thankful for.

I hope you can also reflect on encouragements, and that you rest well tonight.

Urban Africa

We've been in a city in East Africa for three weeks now. Last year, I reflected on some of the lessons we learnt in rural West Africa. Here, life is very different. Rather than the sounds of the African night, we hear loud music at all hours, traffic and horns around the clock and just occasionally, a ciccada. Rather than having abundant space for boys to run and climb and jump, we are living in an apartment block with a small concrete forecourt and walking on the roads requires close attention for traffic, uncovered manholes and other hazards. Personally, I think we prefer wide open spaces, abundant nature, mountains to climb, rivers to swim in, being able to walk everywhere we need to go; yet for now, this is where God has brought us. And three weeks in, we can see different, but equally precious opportunities here.

10 things which have been helpful educationally are:

1) The markets. Uganda has been termed the 'fruit basket of Africa'. I can see why! It is great for the boys to see seasonal fruit in different stages of ripeness, and to bargain and negotiate for prices. We begin to form relationships with some of the sellers as they laugh at this crazy Bazungu family who visit so often. There are many lessons which are somehow richer than those gleaned in supermarkets (although I think a supermarket trip is also packed with learning).

2) People. Our ultimate goal is to share the gospel with people, and in order to do so, we need to build relationships. When we are living in close proximity with others, such as in the apartment block, it is easier to build a relationship than in the UK where we all tend to live in our 'castles' with the drawbridges pulled up. And reflecting on this, I can see why God might want us to spend time in a chaotic, densely populated region.

3) Entomology. The first morning, my eldest was delighted by a cockroach. He can now describe several different types and tell me how their wings are beautiful colours. They enjoy looking at a whole range of insects and creepy crawlies under their magnifying glasses, and their descriptions are astonishingly accurate.

4) Few resources. The other day, they saw a boy having a bath in a dirty storm drain. They couldn't understand why at first, but we were able to explain how access to fresh water is actually a privilege and something we should be thankful for. We have a very poor water supply in our apartment, and it makes them realise just how amazing the resources in the UK are. Water is one example, there are many more.

5) Realising how big God is. 'If I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me and your right hand will hold you fast' Psalm 139. They are beginning to understand this.

6) Internet! We've been astonished! The connection is reasonably stable and fast, far superior to what we knew 4 years ago when we lived in a nearby country. This opens up certain opportunities, and as we consider how we might home educate if we come to live here for a longer period, it enables things that I would not have imagined possible.

7) That God changes your heart. We are coming to like the loud music, the humidity and the bustle. He is helping us to be 'content in all circumstances', and the boys similarly are adapting rapidly. We worked out that our four year old has lived in five different countries (three in African, two in Europe). We've read quite a bit about 'third culture kids' and know that there can be challenges that are faced; yet at the same time, there are many rich opportunities.

8) Family. I've reflected on this many times, but we are thankful that God has enabled us as a family to have one parent home whilst the other works. Overall we split it 50:50, but there are times when one of us does relatively more. Currently I am working more like 80%, and my husband is home. It is exciting for me to come home and see how their writing and drawing is progressing, and see the stability in our methods of education. I am extremely thankful to have a husband with whom I share my vision for our family, the desire to see the children grow to know and love God, to make stability in the home a priority and to educate them in a gentle, child-paced manner embracing the opportunities of daily life.

9) God's family. We met a friend of a friend the other night, and she also knows several other mutual friends and although we had just me, we were able to share a meal and encourage one another in Christ. The boys do not see this as special or unusual because to them it is just 'normal'. But we seek to teach them about how amazing God's plans and provision are, and to demonstrate to them that 'all men shall know that you are My disciples if you have love one for another'.

10) Attending different churches. Different music, different songs, different people, different styles, but the same Bible, the same truth, the same God. One day, every tribe and tongue will worship together. And here, we have another glimpse of that truth.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Do you ever worry about the future? Do you feel anxious about where you will be next year, or in five years or maybe have concerns about your longer term future? As a homeschooler, do you feel anxious that you don’t have a plan beyond the end of the week (or even the end of the day)? Or a rough idea for the term or academic year, but not beyond?

There are many blogs, books, articles, resources, curricula and conferences which help equip home educators with ideas, inspiration, resources, support, structures, schedules, equipment and consumables. I think this is a good thing. But the flip-side can be that one becomes overwhelmed by the amount of choice, starts to second guess the child-led approach which is currently serving the family well, and anxiety can creep in. Or at least it can for me!

Another area which can make me anxious is thinking longer term. Is there a pressure as a home educator to prove that your methods are working? Is there a pressure (even when you may confidently state that you are not bothered by goals and targets, and that is a major reason for choosing a less formalised and structured approach) to be ‘keeping up’ with your childrens’ peers in the mainstream education sector? Is there a pressure to ‘perform’, to demonstrate that your standards of discipline, character formation and inter-personal relationships are as excellent as the academic progress being made?

Other areas where anxiety can creep in is as you seek to know the Lord’s guidance in your life. Should you continue to home school? Are you in the correct employment? Should you be serving elsewhere, perhaps in a more needy area or overseas? Do you need to do any formalised Bible training? How can you effectively serve whilst raising a young family who need so much of your time and attention during the day?

Let me encourage you. Jesus knew that we would be prone to become anxious, prone to take on burdens that He did not give us, that we are prone to listen to the lies of the devil, and do not always see Him as our everything. Let me encourage you that He knows and cares about the concerns of your heart today, this evening, this week, throughout your life.

‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ Matthew 11:28-29. Recently my boys have enjoyed an abridged version of Pilgrim’s Progress and have been particularly struck by the visualisation of a physical burden being removed at the cross. Do you know that liberty?

‘Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:6-7. God knows and cares about each and every situation. There is nothing too big or too small for Him to both care about, and to have sufficient power to help you in.

It would take a long time to go through all the verses about freedom from fear, about looking to the example of the birds of the air and the flowers of the field to see how much the Lord cares about the smallest of details, about the amazing power of God to intervene in situations which might appear hopeless. Hebrews Chapter 11 brings great encouragement as we look at the stories of faith throughout the Bible; one thing that brings me particular encouragement is that not all of the stories had happy endings at the time. Instead those faithful people trusted in God and looked towards heaven. We are not promised an easy ride, but what we are promised is that God’s grace is always sufficient, and that He will give us the strength, hope, grace and wisdom for each and every day.

This time next week we’ll be on our way to Africa. I don’t know where we will stay. We don’t know what the city will be like, how we will travel around, what kind of food we will eat (and I'm a little limited following recent surgery). We have many unanswered questions. At the same time, there seems to be an endless list of tasks that we would like to achieve before we go, things to sort out in the house, people we’d like to see or speak to, deadlines to get ahead on. But rather than worrying about these things, I can choose to trust that God knows the answers to all of my questions, and that He is faithful.

‘In all your ways acknowledge Him’ the Proverb challenges us. And when I reflected on this as I ran to work the other day, I realised that there were places where I was acknowledging myself, my professional skills, our organisation, our resourcefulness. These things may be gifts of God, but ultimately, it is only God who gives us the purpose for each day.

This next month will bring new adventures, and for the boys, a whole new chapter of their holistic education. I need not worry about lesson plans for that time, nor for a curriculum to slip back into on return, but rather should seek to embrace the unique opportunities of each day. (Noting that our children are young, and also our chosen ‘style’ of home education, were we to categorise ourselves which I try to avoid (!) would be very much a child-led, making the most of each and every opportunity in daily life type approach).

If you have anxieties today, either regarding the short or the longer term, regarding your childrens’ education or about other matters, then bring them to God. He knows. He cares. And He will give you strength and wisdom for whatever today (and tomorrow!) bring.

Thankfulness

I am often challenged by how we choose to speak about things, and the effects that can have on both ourselves and others. It sounds like a cliche, but choosing to have a 'gratitude attitude' can really make a difference to your outlook on life, your relationship with God, your Christian service and your Christian witness to those around you. Similarly, it is really important to consider how we speak about challenges, trials, frustrations and perhaps more than anything else, how we speak about our children.

I have not blogged as much as I would like recently. This evening, I simply want to reflect and give thanks for encouragements in our lives, with particular reference to our lifestyle as homeschoolers.

1) I am well! After several years of daily vomiting, I had surgery which fixed the problem and feel strong again. There can be a temptation to feel frustrated and bitter about the fact it took so long to get it sorted out (I knew from the start what the problem was and what was needed). But that leaves out the fact that God is sovereign and His timing is perfect. He uses trials and challenges to build our faith. ' These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.' 1 Peter 1:7 It is easy to be impatient and think we know better than God - 'I'd be so much more useful if I were fully well' etc. God gave me the strength I needed every day during the illness. Not often much more than that, but sufficient. As the Apostle Paul is famous for saying, 'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.' 2 Cor 12:9

2) We are planning another 'field trip' to a different country in sub-Saharan Africa. Our lifestyle involves quite a lot of moving around. Both parents work part time, so one of us is always home for the children, and so when there is a need to move somewhere for work, we embrace it as an opportunity. The boys are getting excited about seeing the source of the Nile, the tombs of the kings, experiencing the warm African rain, visiting the market places and sleeping in a new place (whether that be in a bed, on the floor, all sharing a bed - we don't yet know!) I am always amazed at how much they absorb through these experiences, and it is my prayer that we guide them in their understanding of new situations. More than anything, I pray that they see God at work through it all. There are some steps of faith - many details are unclear even though we leave in just two weeks. It is a short-term trip which may open up future opportunities. We are trying to teach the boys to live by faith. I love the global perspective that this gives them - they know of other people across the world who seek to bring the good news of Jesus to those who have never heard of Him. They know quite a lot about countries and customs, such as different styles of clothing (such as the way women must be more modest in some countries) or food (they loved eating from the communal pot in West Africa!). I am aware that 'third culture kids' can experience some challenges later on, through never having felt 'grounded' in one particular place or society. We pray that we are able to provide the stability of our family home, and to keep open clear communication with the boys should challenges arise in the future.

3) Along similar lines to this global perspective, they are loving their stories of 'Ten Boys who Changed the World' etc from Lightkeepers. I'd recommend these biographies. There are 5 books in each set - boys who made history, who used their talents, who didn't give in, who changed the world.... They are short, and focus a lot on the life of the person as a child and as they became a Christian, with the amazing things they did for God only at the end. There are they structured questions to consider and pray about. My boys want to grow up to do great things for God, and find these books inspiring. I'm also quite astonished at how much reformation history they are imbibing through these snapshots - it encompasses what Charlotte Mason taught about 'living books' and how children learn when they can visualise, identify with and relate to a situation.

4) Our local group of Christian home-educators has brought much encouragement, through both the online discussions (Facebook) and meeting face to face. We're able to share ideas and resources, but also just to meet with other like-minded families and that brings encouragement. I think one of the biggest challenges homeschoolers meet is isolation. That you can't comment on being tired, or busy, or frustrated without some kindly (or not so kindly) person suggesting that all would be well should you simply 'put them in school like everybody else'. Let me encourage you if you are feeling isolated - search for other home schooling families in your neighbourhood. You only need one or two like-minded individuals to make a real difference.

5) Generally just enjoying the pace of things at the moment. The older boys are learning to read and write gradually, without all that much specific effort or structure. The eldest was inspired that Adoniram Judson learnt to read from the Bible at age 4 and has resolved to do likewise! The youngest is picking things up every day, and for me it is generally more fulfilling than a year ago, because we are starting to see some of the fruit of what we are doing. Yes, there are new challenges, but in the face of these it is important to look back and give thanks for the victories, for the accomplishments, for those issues which are no longer issues, for the maturing of a character, for the conquering (or at least, focussed battling against) a bad habit or temptation.

6) My church family bring me encouragement. I've reflected quite a lot in the past about family-orientated worship such as that exemplified by Voddie Baugham and others. I don't know if we really have found this in the UK. But I've still been encouraged. The boys sit reasonably through the service and listen, and ask appropriate questions when they get home. They love to sing. One day, early on, a man turned to me at the end of the service. I thought he was going to tell me off for the boys making a bit of noise, but instead said to me, 'Isn't it wonderful to hear childrens' voices in the house of the Lord'. What a lovely attitude. The boys seem more settled than they have done before, and the parents are gradually getting more involved. God has guided us, and we are thankful.

These are simply a few of the many encouragements and blessings God has given us at this time in our lives. We are thankful that we can home educate, that we can see beyond the four walls of an educational establishment or the limitations of a particular curriculum or method. We do not know what the future will hold, for either the parents or the children in our family. But we do know that God is good, and promises to guide us. It remains an exciting adventure to live by faith, to trust God's leading on a daily basis in the smaller aspects of life (and education) and also in the bigger decisions (such as what continent to live on).

I pray that you know encouragement this week.