I think we would also have laughed

if you told us we would home educate our children. I always thought homeschooling was for the anti-social, elitist, granola-eating, jumper-wearing wierdos. Well, was I ever full of misconceptions! The thing that changed my narrow-minded misconceptions was to spend time with homeschooling families who were thriving in all aspects of their lives. It was authentic and so evident by the contentment and intelligence of their children. There are those who thrived and will thrive in institutional schools, but that is obviously not for our children. Not right now, at least. Sometime during the pregancy for our second son, I began to think about school. Where would they go? The idea of sending my babies anywhere was beyond abhorrent to me -- that should not have surprised me because I would not let the baby leave my hospital room without me, the idea going back to work and sending baby Julian to a sitter went right out the window! I suppose I was most surprised when I mentioned the idea of homeschooling to my husband, he was open to the idea. At the time, it was long ways off anyhow.

Well, now I guess I am a card-carrying wierdo-homeschooling-freak, yet I don't wear jumpers, humility does not allow for elitism, we are just too active to be anti-social and sure, granola's okay. Our children are typical boys and girls in so many ways, yet unique and special in only the way God made them.

Julian is our fiercely independent leader (that is until anyone older comes along, then he acquiesces until it is his turn to take over). He learns like he eats.. to get dessert. He will complete his core subjects to receive his reward of free time. Fortunately, he is a voracious reader... to the point that we sometimes find him reading with a flashlight after bedtime.

Timothy is in a great place for his education. His older brother has blazed the trail from being the first out of the womb (making for four much easier deliveries!) to being the first to learn lessons. Timothy learned to read completely through osmosis. I cannot remember teaching him much at all compared those 4year old daily phonics lessons that Julian enjoyed (yes, enjoyed, he was a very eager early learner). Timothy taught himself sight reading and phonics were nicely integrated. He just turned seven on Monday. He knows how to carry, but not borrow, (I know, it's called regrouping these days..) yet, he has memorized nearly all of the multiplication tables simply from being in the same room while Julian does his math lessons.Timothy is an authentic child-led learner. Just yesteday I found him drawing the food pyramid with nice details. That was not in our recent lessons.. I asked him why he was drawing the food pyramid and he replied that it was on the box of cereal. (Maybe it will encourage him to try harder to eat his five fruits and veggies each day.. one can only hope.)

Our third son, Maximilian , has not had the advantage (or disadvantage) of his mother being the anxious first time homeschooling mom who needs to have the perfect curriculum and all that goes with it. He has been busy playing trucks and playing in the dirt with his buddy, Pier-Jerome. Like a "normal" kid. He has been spending his kindergarten year learning to read at his own pace. He is motivated by his sense of accomplishment when he puts his letter sounds together. It is such a thrill to watch his "lightbulbs" go off. I am honored just to be a part of it.

Three-and-a-half-year-old Pier-Jerome was interviewed for a home video in January. He was asked "Do you do lessons, too?" To which he replied. "No..." "Really? Why not?" Pier-Jerome answered "I just scribble." Well, scribble away, Pier-Jerome! You are on your way to reading and writing, learning in a gentle and loving way. For now, enjoy your scribbles, days in the dirt with Maximilian (and Elaina!), your favorite tricycle and all of the fun things that boys who are going to be four do.

Our pretty, pretty princess is Elaina Corrine. She is the delight of her brothers, the apple of her Daddy's eye and Mommy's sweet angel girlie. She is "such a girl!" Daddy says. Yet, her brother's trucks are the perfect chariot for her dollies.

These are our Sweet Treasures.. so far. When I am asked whether or not we are "done," I reply that I never asked for a single one of our Amazing Blessings, they were 100% God's idea. His ideas are unfathomably Perfect. Just Perfect! I can only say that I don't know if we are all here yet.