I really am glad that we home school . . .

I love homeschool. I just love it.

I know sometimes I write about how hard it is. And, don't get me wrong. It is hard. There are moments and days where it is overwhelming, and stressful, and I wonder how it is all going to turn out.

And, come on, let's just admit it. Sometimes I am a BIG. FAT. WHINER.

But, in my honesty about the hard moments, I don't want to lose my honesty about the good ones.

Recently, I've had several moms approach me with a curiosity about homeschooling their kiddos. They are thinking about it. Praying about it. Talking it over with their husbands. Mulling the idea over in their heads. Excited. Terrified. Freaked out. Overwhelmed but energized by the thought of it all at the same time.

And, to those moms, I can't tell you what to do. All I know is where the Lord led our family. And I can be honest with you about the hard days. And, I can try to convey to you the joy and blessing that has come from following Him in obedience. The blessing of being with my kids. Of seeing them love each other. Of watching them learn about the world, and being there to help them make sense of it all. Pointing them back to Jesus over and over again, all day long. Watching them learn how to read. Seeing the "lightbulb" go off when they figure something out.

The joy from the relationships that are being built between us as we spend the majority of our days together. I have been overwhelmed in the past couple of weeks at moments we've shared, and moments that I've watched transpire between my kids. More than once I have stopped, in tears, watching Marshall help his two-year-old brother or take him by the hand to go search out a favorite toy. Watching all three of my kids play together on the playroom floor.

Watching Eliza sit and read book after book to her little brother.

Being with them all day leads to conversations that might not happen otherwise. Just the other day, Marshall said "Mom, why do you have to tell people you are going to have a c-section? Don't all moms have c-sections? 'Cause if not, then how the heck would you get a baby out of your belly?" Good question, buddy. Good question. We made it seven years before you asked that question. And, I'm glad that I was there when you asked it and got to explain the answer. Even if his response was "eww, that is so gross. I am so glad that I came out by a c-section." Love him.

I guess my point is that while some days are really messy and hard, I love homeschooling my kids. The laundry often goes undone (unless my mother-in-law comes over to fold it!). I have about a million extra opportunities to ask my kids to give me forgiveness. And, I've had to learn to be okay with a lot of things that are less-than-my-idea-of-perfect.

However. . . there are an abundance of moments where blessing, love, and joy overflow. We may never be on the cover of Homeschool Today magazine, lined up in matching denim outfits with our violins that we play with perfection. (wait.stop.actually, I'm not sure that we want to be!) But, there are camera-worthy moments. Moments that take my breath away. Moments that make me pour out my gratitude to the Lord that He would have led our family down this crazy path of homeschool. It is true beauty in the midst of the craziness.