Homeschooling with a MISSION

Memories were made and miles logged over this CHRISTmas season, and now, it is January 2017 with regular school days back in session, albeit, with a fresh little bit of spice for life in some new resources AbiNoelle enjoyed during the break. Some of the “NEW” expanded her imagination, others stretched those brain cells, but one we share and review today, SchoolhouseTeachers.com, served to bring interest and challenge to our walk with the Lord.

SchoolhouseTeachers.com, a division of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, provides quick links for over 300 classes offered to members with a Yearly Membership, organizational tips and material for the home teacher and even hundreds of streaming videos. We look forward to utilizing many of these resources throughout this year of access.

It seems we always have an eye out for good, quality, Bible-based material to help grow and challenge AbiNoelle. Through the Schoolhouse Teacher website, she was able to view many of the Torchlighter biographies of great Heroes of the Faith. AbiNoelle enjoyed especially being able to view some with Grandpa during our Christmas visit. What a faith-builder to be able to learn the testimony of those who sacrificed much for the cause of Christ. Corrie Ten Boom and Amy Carmichael are favorites of AbiNoelle’s, but it was so interesting to be introduced to Richard Wurmbrand and hear that Grandpa had actually heard him speak years ago. Over 15 stories were available as streaming videos and there are so many more that we look forward to exploring soon.

Not only did we peruse the Torchlighter series, but we checked out several art and music ideas on the website. AbiNoelle loves to paint and has always enjoyed listening to and learning new Bible songs. We downloaded a huge list of fun art projects, and we were excited to watch a few lessons from a violin teacher whose heart is to train students to use their violin talents as a service for the Lord. AbiNoelle has already been working hard to learn the piano (her favorites to play this Christmas were Away in a Manger and Go Tell it on the Mountain – she has played them a BAZILLION times – I think we all know them by heart – WINK, WINK!), she is anxious to be able to play more of her child’s set of handbells, and it has certainly been a special moment to have her join Mom and Dad in playing the handchimes in church. What a blessing to be given talents of the Lord, and it’s like icing on the cake when you discover new ways to help you further build and refine those gifts.

Let it snow! Let it snow! – We all sing as we enjoy 6 inches of beauty in these North Carolina mountains. Bring on lesson 100 with K5 and our homeschooling program, as we look forward to growing our talents, challenging and encouraging our faith, and stretching our mind with a few little extras as we take advantage of SchoolhouseTeachers this year and enjoy using those resources that meet our needs, add a little “spice to life” and adhere to our already established homeschool philosophy.