Next we hear from Sally as she reflects on her homeschool journey. Thank you Sally, for your insightful words and wisdom! We can't wait to check out your book recommendation, Fearfully and Wonderfully Made!

Looking back, what was something about your homeschool journey that you are glad you did? What would you have done differently?

"The two above questions have prompted some thoughtful searching, and of course hindsight is 20:20. My husband and I will have different answers and I may come back to it with his. Firmly, we are both unclouded by any dilemma encountered over our choice to home school. My answer is simple and thus: we read aloud to our daughters everyday… even on the sick days, even on the weekends, even when my husband began working out-of-state. I read in our days usually biographies, missionary stories, historical fictions {I found books to read aloud for every subject}; Craig read in the evenings, his choice… sometimes just a good book such as, Rifles for Watie and added all the voices… sometimes all of The Chronicles of Narnia for the umpteenth time… countless books over 17 years. This continued by phone when he was not home. And it continues today… if any of our now adult daughters are home {including their husbands}, they gather and listen with pleasure, and sometimes request a reread of a certain book. Emphasizing this, we read with precedence over any other subject. This is not to say that the Word wasn’t priority or commonly our reading choice outside of devotions; it was. But reading as we did created an understanding of the Bible as the one whole story {that it is} of Salvation. This was core to being ‘our’ family home school. Reading aloud creates a closeness that cannot be denied. It creates interest in learning that prompts children to get excited for the next gathering. It helps us all develop compassion for what is happening in the world beyond ourselves, speaking from the types of books we read. It creates an amazing ability to listen that is rare in our society. It creates a unique ability to memorize and helps in the writing they will need to accomplish in their future college studies. It creates a conversational ability that is grounded in truth. And in case you would want to know my personal favorite?? It was/is Fearfully and Wonderfully Made, by Dr. Paul Brand son of Granny Brand, missionary to India. It is a powerful and the most compassionate work of one man to the most undesired of all, lepers. It has been read over and over. Maybe enough said ;)

As for what would I have done differently? Honestly, I spent too much on curriculum. I would search harder for the way to accomplish our school for less. I blame myself for some financial crippling in what I spent on curriculum as we were living on one income. You will always be able to pick on yourself about something you have or haven’t done in your school. My encouragement is to press forward and clearly know that the Lord travels this path with you. So closely. Find, with these things, what God is trying to teach YOU. It is a privilege even with the choices you will make that may not have been ideal. I give you this Word:
”And how blessed all those in whom You live,
Whose lives become roads You travel;
They wind through lonesome valleys, come upon brooks,
Discover cool springs and pools brimming with rain!
God-traveled, these roads curve up the mountain, and
At the last turn—Zion! God in full view!”
Psalm 84:5-7 the message/Peterson"

In case you've missed past Q&A's, click below to hear from the other veteran homeschool mothers:

Q&A with Veteran Homeschool Mothers: Part 1

Q&A with Veteran Homeschool Mothers: Part 2

Q&A with Veteran Homeschool Mothers: Part 3

Q&A with Veteran Homeschool Mothers: Part 4

Q&A with Veteran Homeschool Mothers: Part 5