Well, my dear friends, this is a bittersweet day for me. It is my last official day of homeschooling. Of course, I love to teach my children (anyone, for that matter!), so the “homeschooling” really won’t end. Every day provides a new opportunity for me to teach my children something. But our formal homeschooling (is there such a thing??) is nearly over. I started six years ago when Brian was in 4th grade. Alyssa sat and did a little preschool workbook while we were busy. By the end of last year, Brian decided that he wanted to go back to school for high school. We felt that it was the right decision for him at the the time and enrolled him in Christian school. Alyssa didn’t want to go, but has been very lonely without Brian at home. We haven’t been able to do our regular homeschooling activities this year because they interfere with having to pick up the kids from school. She has requested to go to school, and so we have enrolled her in Christian school for the fall. She’s excited about it and so are we.

Here is our sweet, little, cold basement classroom. We painted it a soothing blue. You can see the maps and the calendar on the wall. To my right would have been some storage cabinets and a white board. Behind me are some bookshelves.

I have loved homeschooling. I have loved the flexibility it gave us. I have loved the time I got to spend with my children and how I always knew what was going on with them. I have loved seeing them grow and blossom. But this season in my life is over. I am sad that my children are leaving me. And to admit the truth, I’m a little bit afraid of having them out in the world – are they really ready for the challenges that lie ahead of them, even though they will be in a Christian environment? Will I lose my sweet little girl? Will I lose that close connection with them?

To all you homeschoolers, enjoy every second of it you can. It will end all too soon, even if you have the privilege of schooling them all the way through high school. My heart is with all of you. I wish it were me. I’ll be praying for all of you.

To all of you who don’t homeschool, you really do! Don’t miss the opportunities in front of you every day to teach your children something. We all learn something new each day. Pass that never-ending love of learning on to your children.

What are my plans now that I’ll be a lady of leisure? Soap operas and bon-bons? Ha! Ha! I plan to work seriously on my writing. My goal: to have a contract in my hot little hands in the next year or two, should it be the Lord’s will. Pray for me in this new season in my life. Pray that I will have the discipline I need to write every day. Pray that all that I do, from writing to housework and cooking, will glorify my Lord.