I have recently noticed how often God speaks to me in my car. Or rather, should I say, how much I hear God in my car? I am sure God speaks to me more often that I hear, but car conversations seem to work because they are one of the few opportunities when I am actually alone! Recently, God shared a beautiful message with me in the car. It is a message of blessings and hope. I hope it encourages you as much as it does me!

God brought to mind many of the trials and tribulations that I have been through in this life. He did not bring them to mind for me to lament over or even to examine in detail, but moreso, He put them on my mind because they all had something in common. Actually two things: through all of them I never lost faith in God and through all of them I was home schooling! Now, the faith aspect is a subject for another day. Probably one that you cover in church regularly. But the home schooling idea surprised me. God revealed me to that day what a blessing home schooling has been in my life. It has been a constant when so many other things were failing around me. If you’ll bear with me, I’d like to share just a few examples:

1. While my beloved mother battled cancer – I was able to travel with my children from my home in Texas to her home in Florida. We used her tiny hometown library and spent most days schooling as I also tended to her. At the time, Ally was only 11 and John Paul was 5. The days were not always easy, but continuing to home school at my mom’s brought not only a measure of routine for the children and myself through a trying time, it also brought joy to my mom to watch her grandchildren grow in wisdom. I hold onto those times as some of my worst because my mother was one of the world’s true saints and as some of my best because if I had not home schooled, imagine what we would’ve missed out on during those days?

2. While living in hotels – My children’s father was a hotel manager for many years and we followed him from state to state often living in hotels for months at a time. Home schooling again brought the continuity that we needed to feel normal in abnormal surroundings.

3. While writing Epi Kardia – now please don’t think that I consider writing Epi Kardia a trial (okay…maybe occasionally. LOL). However, I know that many home school families begin a business while home schooling. Needless to say, there have been days when I felt that I had to choose between the two, but being reminded of the whole reason I started Epi Kardia (I wanted a certain curriculum for my own children!) grounds me when I get too sidetracked.

There are so many more times I could mention, but I think you have the idea. I know many moms who homeschool when it’s amazing that they just get up in the morning. I specifically know those who have lost children, lost spouses, lost all income and I praise God that in all of those cases, they never lost faith! I am not trying to romanticize home schooling or even promote it as any sort of saving grace. But God has used it my life and in my children’s life to allow us to grow closer to one another and to Him, even in life’s worst times.

I’d love to hear from you about a time that you have home schooled through a challenge. If you live in the South, you’ve probably homeschooled through hurricanes! If you live in the North, maybe the snowstorms are your adventure. May you always see your homeschool experience overall as a blessing and not a burden.

God bless each of you as you homeschool through all times, as you have committed yourself to the Godly training of your children and as you continue to seek His face in the process.

In Him,